Edgar Degas

Edgar Degas was born in Paris in 1834 and became one of the most distinctive figures of 19th-century French art. Although closely associated with Impressionism, he preferred to be called a realist and followed his own artistic path. Degas was classically trained and deeply influenced by Renaissance masters and academic drawing. He is best known for his scenes of dancers, theaters, cafés, and everyday urban life.

Rather than painting outdoors, Degas worked mainly in studios, focusing on composition, movement, and unconventional viewpoints. His art captures fleeting moments with a sense of structure and discipline beneath the surface. Degas experimented with various media, including oil, pastel, sculpture, and printmaking. In later years, declining eyesight led him to rely more heavily on bold pastel work. He lived a private and often solitary life. Edgar Degas died in 1917, leaving a body of work that bridged tradition and modernity.