Edgar Degas (1834-1917)

Born in Paris, France

American born Mom & French born Dad

Wealthy family

Dad wanted him to be a lawyer but also wanted him to learn music/art

Enrolled in law school but loved art and went to art school instead to study drawing

Impressionist

Small brush strokes

Regular things to paint

Lots of movement

Light angles important

Human behavior

Different angles

Degas painted inside and from memory

Degas’ Early Works- sketches & family portraits

Painted his father- had a photographic memory

Favorite subjects to paint were ballerinas-

loved movement

Sketch private ballet lessons

Snap shot of ballet instead of poses

The Dance Class (1876)

Next favorite subject was horses

Lighting, shadows & distance important in

his works

Actions & movement

Later in life, Degas was blind

Used his memory to scuplt

Art is at the Louvre in Paris

You get to be Degas today!

Use pastels to sketch the horses

Add details for the field

Try to capture the horse moving

Make it as real as possible

Use your own memory of what a horse looks like