Edgar Degas
Edgar Degas
Edgar Degaswas a French artist famous for his paintings, sculptures, prints, and drawings. He is especially identified with the subject of dance; more than half of his works depict dancers. He is regarded as one of the founders of Impressionism, although he rejected the term, preferring to be called a realist. He was a superb draftsman, and particularly masterly in depicting movement, as can be seen in his renditions of dancers, racecourse subjects and female nudes. His portraits are notable...
ProfessionPainter
Date of Birth19 July 1834
CityParis, France
Edgar Degas quotes about
Hitherto the nude has always been represented in poses which presuppose an audience. But my women are simple, honest creatures who are concerned with nothing beyond their physical occupations... it is as if you were looking through a keyhole.
A picture is first of all a product of the imagination of the artist; it must never be a copy.
There is no such thing as Intelligence; one has intelligence of this or that. One must have intelligence only for what one is doing.
There are some women who should barely be spoken to; they should only be caressed.
So that's the telephone? They ring, and you run.
My art, what do you want to say about it? Do you think you can explain the merits of a picture to those who do not see them? . . . I can find the best and clearest words to explain my meaning, and I have spoken to the most intelligent people about art, and they have not understood; but among people who understand, words are not necessary, you say humph, he, ha and everything has been said.
What is certain is that setting a piece of nature in place and drawing it are two very different things.
I really have a lot of stuff in my head; if only there were insurance companies for that as there are for so many things.
I'm glad I haven't found my style yet. I'd be bored to death.
I would have been in mortal misery all my life for fear my wife might say, 'That's a pretty little thing,' after I had finished a picture.
An artist must approach his work in the spirit of the criminal about to commit a crime.
A picture is a thing which requires as much knavery, as much malice, and as much vice as the perpetration of a crime. Make it untrue and add an accent of truth.
Make people's portraits in familiar and typical attitudes.
Work a great deal at evening effects, lamplight, candlelight, etc. The intriguing thing is not to show the source of the light but the effect of the lighting.