6 impressionist works by Degas

Edgar Degas (1834-1917) was a realist and impressionist draughtsman, sculptor and painter that he stands out for his virtuosity and for being one of the founders of Impressionism, although not of the group of pure impressionists.

Thus, Degas is the owner of a unique style that, although linked to Impressionism, he considered himself realistic due to his love of drawing and his lack of interest in landscape, preferring interiors. In addition, and as can be seen in his works, Degas was obsessed with dance and the human body, setting almost half of his works in ballet, with ballerinas as protagonists.

In this article from unPROFESOR.com we offer you a selection of impressionist works by Degas so that you can identify the characteristics of this artistic movement that had an impact on the painter.

Index

1. Characteristics of the works of Degas
2. The Essay (1873), one of Degas' Impressionist works
3. The Dance Class (1874)
4. The Basin (1886)
5. Musicians in the orchestra (1872-1876)
6. Absinthe (1876)
7. Ballerinas in Blue (1893)

Of gas he also shared concerns with the impressionists, being evident in his works. And it is that, in 1874, after returning from a trip to Italy and tired of being rejected by the great exhibition halls of Paris, Degas decided to exhibit his work in the paris salon together with the group of independent painters, later known as the impressionists.

Degas was associated with Maneth, Cezanne, Renoir and with the writer Émile Zola, his greatest influence being the writer Edmond Duranty.

Between the salient features of Degas' impressionist works:

• Interest and influence of photography, eliminating the typical frames to provide spontaneity
• Inspiration and interest in Japanese prints
• Taste for capturing movement, something especially noticeable in his drawings and paintings of ballerinas.
• Search for beauty.

Essay constitutes one of the Degas early worksin which he deals with the subject of ballet dancers. A subject considered modern by his contemporaries. A dance studio in which the dancers are girls and teenagers who start their journey in the world of ballet.

The scene is ordered following the inspiration of Japanese engravings, placing figures in a first plane and others in upper planes and others in the background performing dance steps under the direction of a teacher.

The light comes from three windows with curtains that help create a very special atmosphere, in addition to creating different color, light and shadow effects on the dancers' clothes.

Another of the characteristics of impressionism What we can appreciate is the influence of photography when cutting the planes, create contrasts between the white of the dresses and the dark tones of the floor.

This oil on canvas is considered realistic, although in it he already shows us one of his key themes, ballerinas and ballet classes. A very elaborate work in which he shows us one of the rehearsal rooms of the Paris Opera. One of the most recognizable figures is the ballet teacher Jules Perrott.

He also considers himself realistic because of the theme and his desire to show the viewer the movement, the activity and the anatomy of the protagonists of a series of paintings of women bathing in bathtubs and tubs. A series in which the influence of japanese prints, typical of impressionist painters.

musicians in the orchestra is another of Degas' impressionist works. This oil on canvas by Degas illustrates the artistic evolution of Degas from realism to Impressionism. The scene shows us the musicians of the orchestra painted in a realistic style while the ballerinas who dance on stage are painted in an impressionist style.

When he had already painted the picture with the musicians and had given it to a friend, Degas asked him to make some changes. Thus, in 1874 Degas reorganized the figures and, after removing about 5 centimeters to the right and left, added 20 centimeters at the top to add the dancers.

Degas was also a great portraitist and observer of the popular classes, sometimes denouncing the situation experienced by milliners, ironers, dancers and, as in the case of this work, two alcoholics. Degas shows us a woman sitting in a cafe with a glass of absinthe on her table. She has lost sight and the man looks away.

A criticism of the painter to the indifference with which the degradation in which people who consume absinthe fall is experienced. A self-destruction that Degas reflects very well in this painting.

This is already one of the works of the last phase of Degas's artistic career. A moment in which the impressionist aesthetic is already very marked. Thus, Degas uses thick patches of color, pastel colors and textures to recreate one of his favorite scenes: those of classes or ballet performances.

It must be taken into account that the painter began to lose sight in 1880, devoting himself to handling pastels in order to maintain the fluidity of the stroke.

If you want to read more articles similar to Degas: impressionist works, we recommend that you enter our category of History.

• BAEZ, Marina Barrientos. Degas and his dancers. Danzaratte: Magazine of the Higher Conservatory of Dance of Malaga, 2009, no 5, p. 30-36.
• DEGAS, Edgar. The sculptures of Edgar Degas. Generalitat Valenciana, 2011.
• RUBIO, S and EFA.R. Of gas. The dance of loneliness, Norma Editorial, 2021
• SOLANA, William. Impressionism. Anaya, 1991.
• SOTO, Antonio Cobos. Impressionism. Arbor, 2000, vol. 165, not 649, p. 1-19.