Hilaire Germain Edgar Degas
Painter and
sculpture
1834-1917
Edgar Degas
He was born on July 19th, 1834 into an affluent Paris
banking family. As a young man, he studied at the École
des Beaux-Arts. Degas, is considered as an impressionist.
Before the Ballet
1890/1892,
oil on canvas,
National Gallery of Art, Washington
Edgar Degas
Late in life, Degas began
losing his eyesight, and
with this loss resorted to a
change of medium.
He began seriously to sculpt
when he was in his early
40`s and, although he
probably had no thought of
exhibiting most of his
sculpture, his modeling
increasingly became a
major part of his work.
Sketching
Degas repeatedly
sketched Marie van
Goethem in
preparation for
making the
sculpture. He drew
her from every
angle, circling
around her to
capture each look
and gesture,
posture, head and
arm positions.
Edgar Degas, Three Studies of a Dancer in Fourth Position,
c.1879/1880, charcoal and pastel with stumping, with touches of
brush and black wash, on grayish-tan laid paper with blue fibers
(discolored from pinkish-blue), laid down on gray wove paper, The
Art Institute of Chicago
In 1881, Degas shows eight works of art including the
sculpture "Little Dancer, Aged Fourteen." The wax figure -dressed in a muslin tutu, fabric bodice, real slippers, and a
wig of real hair -- provokes tremendous controversy,
inciting both violent criticism and fervent praise.
Marie van Goethem
•daughter of a Parisian
laundress and tailor
•one of the ballet "rats" at the
Paris Opera.
•For Degas, she represented
awkwardness of youth and
the graceful promise of a
great ballerina.
•she stands posed in a
relaxed fourth position
• her back arched
•belly forward
•hands clasped tightly
behind her back.
Little Dancer Aged Fourteen
1879-1881
Yellow wax, hair,various textiles, wood base
99 cm (39 in.)
National Gallery of Art, Washington DC.
At the time of his death his studio contained more than 150
wax models which he had made of dancing girls, race horses
and women working or bathing.
With failing eyesight, sculpting became his principal medium
of expression at the end of his career.
Never really successful in life, Degas was largely discovered as
a master after his death in 1917.
Edgar Degas
The Dance Lesson
1879
oil on canvas
National Gallery of Art, Washington