Edgar Degas[1834 – 1917]

French artist

Hilaire-Germain-Edgar De Gas [Degas]

was born,

July 19, 1834

in Paris, France

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Famous for his pastel drawings and oil paintings of dancers, Degas also produced bronze sculptures, prints, and drawings.
Although Degas is regarded as one of the founders of Impressionism, he rejected the term, preferring to be called a realist, and did not paint outdoors as many Impressionists did.

“You know what I think of people who work out in the open. If I were the government I would have a special brigade of gendarmes to keep an eye on artists who paint landscapes from nature. Oh, I don’t mean to kill anyone; just a little dose of bird-shot now and then as a warning.”

Degas was a superb draftsman, and particularly masterly in depicting movement, as can be seen in his rendition of dancers and bathing female nudes. In addition to ballet dancers…