French painter and sculptor Hilaire-Germain-Edgar De Gas, more commonly known as Edgar Degas (1834-1917) is considered to be one of the main founders of Impressionism and is widely known for his paintings of females and the overall life of Parisians. Degas is especially associated with the subject of dance, actually Degas has produced approximately 1,500 works on the subject (Schenkel 2004). The ballerinas Degas created remain as some of the most famous works of 19th-century art.
Degas' talent in capturing movement in its countless forms resulted in a substantial portfolio of pastels, paintings, sketches, drawings and eventually sculptures. Apart from his portraits it is almost impossible to find a Degas where movement is not present, yet his techniques were the exact opposite of the other Impressionists of his age. There was nothing impulsive about Degas, everything was studied, planned and performed in his controlled studio. According to art historian Carol Armstrong, Degas himself explained, "no art was ever less spontaneous than mine. What I do is the result of reflection and of the study of the great masters; of inspiration, spontaneity, temperament, I know nothing.” (Armstrong 1991) Nonetheless, he is described more accurately as an Impressionist than as a member of any other movement.
Degas’ sculptures stand out from other …show more content…
So the "Little Dancer" could be seen as someone who was destined for a life of depravity. Some historians believe that Degas' produced The Little Dancer as an accusation of a society that ignored the practices that went on at the opera and thereby weakened France’s morale. To some, the dancer is a masterpiece, remarkably modern yet a reminder of ancient statuary. Though to others, she is an example of depravity, of criminality, of the ills of
Degas' talent in capturing movement in its countless forms resulted in a substantial portfolio of pastels, paintings, sketches, drawings and eventually sculptures. Apart from his portraits it is almost impossible to find a Degas where movement is not present, yet his techniques were the exact opposite of the other Impressionists of his age. There was nothing impulsive about Degas, everything was studied, planned and performed in his controlled studio. According to art historian Carol Armstrong, Degas himself explained, "no art was ever less spontaneous than mine. What I do is the result of reflection and of the study of the great masters; of inspiration, spontaneity, temperament, I know nothing.” (Armstrong 1991) Nonetheless, he is described more accurately as an Impressionist than as a member of any other movement.
Degas’ sculptures stand out from other …show more content…
So the "Little Dancer" could be seen as someone who was destined for a life of depravity. Some historians believe that Degas' produced The Little Dancer as an accusation of a society that ignored the practices that went on at the opera and thereby weakened France’s morale. To some, the dancer is a masterpiece, remarkably modern yet a reminder of ancient statuary. Though to others, she is an example of depravity, of criminality, of the ills of