内容简介
Dancers always remained Degas's favorite theme
"No art could be less spontaneous than mine. Inspiration,spontaneity, temperament are unknown to me. One has to do the samesubject ten times, even a hundred times over. In art, nothingshould look like chance, not even movement." (Edgar Degas)
In terms of both theme and technique, the key to understandingthe early work of Edgar Degas (1834-1917) is classical painting.Although he was eventually associated with the Impressionists andeven participated in their joint exhibitions, Degas never adopted apurely Impressionist approach.
Degas's work, reflecting an extremely personal and psychologicalperspective, emphasizes the scenic or concentrates on the detail.Thus, Degas's painting is often discussed with reference to therise of short-exposure photography. Thematically, nature provedless interesting to the artist than the life and inhabitants of themodern metropolis. Degas primarily sought his motifs in balletsalons, at the race track or circus, or in bedrooms - but dancersalways remained his favorite theme.
"No art could be less spontaneous than mine. Inspiration,spontaneity, temperament are unknown to me. One has to do the samesubject ten times, even a hundred times over. In art, nothingshould look like chance, not even movement." (Edgar Degas)
In terms of both theme and technique, the key to understandingthe early work of Edgar Degas (1834-1917) is classical painting.Although he was eventually associated with the Impressionists andeven participated in their joint exhibitions, Degas never adopted apurely Impressionist approach.
Degas's work, reflecting an extremely personal and psychologicalperspective, emphasizes the scenic or concentrates on the detail.Thus, Degas's painting is often discussed with reference to therise of short-exposure photography. Thematically, nature provedless interesting to the artist than the life and inhabitants of themodern metropolis. Degas primarily sought his motifs in balletsalons, at the race track or circus, or in bedrooms - but dancersalways remained his favorite theme.