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
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.
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.
An artist must approach his work in the spirit of the criminal about to commit a crime.
C'est vrai. Voilá quelqu'un qui sent comme moi. (It is true. There is someone who feels as I do).
Do portraits of people in familiar and typical attitudes, above all give to their face the same choice of expression that one gives to their body.
These women of mine are decent, simple human beings who have no other concern than that of their physical condition... it is as though one were watching through a keyhole.
If I were in the government I would have a brigade of policemen assigned to keeping an eye on people who paint landscapes outdoors. Oh, I wouldn't want anyone killed. I'd be satisfied with just a little buckshot to begin with.
Women can never forgive me; they hate me, they feel that I am disarming them. I show them without their coquetry.
Truth is never ugly when one can find in it what one needs.
Everyone has talent at twenty-five. The difficulty is to have it at fifty.