The painter, printmaker, sculptor, photographer, and collector Edgar Degas was born in Paris in 1834 and passed away in 1917.
He was one of the most intriguing figures of the Impressionist circle and the entire 19th century. Two primary factors defined his style: the significance he assigned to the role of line from the very beginning, and the profound influence he drew from studying Renaissance art in Italy (1856-59). Through Manet, he met the other Impressionists (Monet, Renoir, Pissarro) and, despite his differences on certain points, he participated in six of their eight total exhibitions (1874-86). Specifically, while he agreed with the painting of pure light and the rapid brushwork, he rarely painted outdoors (en plein air) in front of his subject and maintained clear outlines. He preferred making only a few sketches and continuing from memory under artificial light, involving his imagination. He drew his themes from contemporary urban life, usually featuring women and especially dancers, fascinated by the study of movement and rhythm. He was an enthusiastic early adopter of modern technology’s achievements and, as a result, constantly experimented with various techniques beyond oil and pastel. A large number of prints survive, products of black-and-white or color etching, lithography, and monotype.