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Degas & Cassatt: A Solitary Dance
One of the founders of the Impressionist movement while also one of its most ruthless critics, too bohemian for the bourgeois and too bourgeois for the artists, Edgar Degas was a man of paradoxes. A loner, he only loved one woman without ever courting her, the American painter Mary Cassatt whom we follow closely as well. And it is in the company of the latter that at the twilight of his life, Efa and Rubio open the pages of Degas's notebooks to try to unravel the mystery of this genius steeped in contradictions.
96 pages, Hardcover
Published March 12, 2024
9 people are currently reading
3583 people want to read
About the author
Salva Rubio
39 books110 followersSalva Rubio is a novelist and screenwriter and something else.
He works as a cinema screenwriter, having been nominated to the Spanish Goya Awards for Best Animation Feature.
As a graphic novel writer, he publishes mainly in the French-Belgian market and his work has been nominated to an Eisner Award.
He has also written classic musical essays and is the continuator of the bestseller screenwriting theory book series “Save the Cat!”
He is an associate member of the WGA (Writer’s Guild of America, West) and he is a member of the Academia de las Artes y las Ciencias Cinematográficas de España.
He works as a cinema screenwriter, having been nominated to the Spanish Goya Awards for Best Animation Feature.
As a graphic novel writer, he publishes mainly in the French-Belgian market and his work has been nominated to an Eisner Award.
He has also written classic musical essays and is the continuator of the bestseller screenwriting theory book series “Save the Cat!”
He is an associate member of the WGA (Writer’s Guild of America, West) and he is a member of the Academia de las Artes y las Ciencias Cinematográficas de España.
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February 14, 2024
Regarded as a founder of impressionism yet one of their most ardent critics, famous during his lifetime yet solitary in his habits, known as a painter, a sculptor, photographer, but also as quarrelsome, chauvanistic, anti-semetic, and cantankerous, Edgar Degas has left his name writ large in art history. Drawing from Degas’ many notebooks and a wealth of art biographies on the primary subjects, Degas & Cassatt A Solitary Dance is a fascinating and gorgeous graphic novel from Salva Rubio and artist Efa, translated from the French by Edward Gauvin. Following the life of Degas told through the reflections of Degas’ friend and fellow artist Mary Cassatt, it examines the many facets of his personality—found to be rather off-putting by those who knew him—and his artistic efforts in an attempt to understand his inner life and lifelong bachelorhood. Gorgeously illustrated, this is a wonderful graphic novel and an interesting look at the art movement during his time as well as heartfelt portraits of the artists around him that will appeal to both fans of Degas regardless of prior knowledge about him or anyone with an interest in art history.
Degas is often best remembered for his paintings of ballerinas
First, a big thank you to Edelweiss and NBM Publishing for a review copy in exchange for an honest review. This book goes on sale 24 March, 2024.
I really enjoyed this graphic novel and found the choice to present the story in visual format to really enhance the telling. The art is quite lovely and is designed to reflect Degas’ own style and chalk pastel medium that tells his story as if through his own form of expression. It fictionalizes his spark of creativity in painting ballerinas and his theories of artistic output that lets us understand Degas through Degas. We also learn a great deal about those with whom he associated, such as Édouard Manet who is a recurring presence in the book and is often used to detail Degas’ rejection of the Salons through their arguments. His belief in toppling the art world and creating a new one for artists to create and be regarded without needing the approval of the Salon is a major focus here, as is his involvement in the Impressionist Exhibitions between 1874 and 1886. The book frames Degas as a highly influential creator of the movement despite his disdain for bohemians, painting outdoors, academics, and pretty much anyone who isn’t himself (he is also highly critical of Cassatt despite also encouraging her and respecting her) and explores how they launched him into fame.
The Little Fourteen-Year-Old Dancer sculpture from 1881
What I appreciated most was how Degas shares this story with that of Mary Cassatt and we see how their relationship influenced, comforted, yet also often frustrated them both. It portrays Cassatt and other women’s struggles in an art world dominated by men and how patriarchal gatekeeping was just as oppressive as Degas saw the gatekeeping of the Salon. Despite the belittling fro Degas, it was lovely to read this as a success story for Cassatt. ‘I’d found my place in a world of men,’ she says, ‘and made my voice as a woman heard. And that was good.’
Portrait of Cassatt by Degas (left) and Casatt’s self-portrait (right)
This framing also makes much of the book an exploration into the mysteries around Degas’ sexuality and leaves us with questions if he ever achieved inner peace, which Rubio poses along with quotes from Degas own letters to kickstart our thinking. The graphic novel takes the stance that Degas’ disinterest in women was part of his desire to make painting his entire life, something that is advised of him at a young age by French painter Jean Auguste Dominique Ingresin the opening of the book:
We see how Degas rejects Manet’s constant affairs with women and believes it to be rotting his ability as an artist, though this belief still does not justify his misogyny in general. It did remind me, too, of something I recently read in Annie Jeng’s wonderful recent review of the book You Must Change Your Life: The Story of Rainer Maria Rilke and Auguste Rodin about Rodin telling Rilke he must change his entire life and bend it towards art to be successful.
I really enjoyed this book and learned quite a lot. It is well paced and beautiful to look at, and while some of the frames can get very wordy at times it never really bogs it down. Degas is a complicated individual and this goes well to show why he was so well regarded despite his many flaws and the frustrations of those who knew him and I enjoyed learning so much about Cassett as well. A must have for art lovers!
⅘
Degas is often best remembered for his paintings of ballerinas
First, a big thank you to Edelweiss and NBM Publishing for a review copy in exchange for an honest review. This book goes on sale 24 March, 2024.
I really enjoyed this graphic novel and found the choice to present the story in visual format to really enhance the telling. The art is quite lovely and is designed to reflect Degas’ own style and chalk pastel medium that tells his story as if through his own form of expression. It fictionalizes his spark of creativity in painting ballerinas and his theories of artistic output that lets us understand Degas through Degas. We also learn a great deal about those with whom he associated, such as Édouard Manet who is a recurring presence in the book and is often used to detail Degas’ rejection of the Salons through their arguments. His belief in toppling the art world and creating a new one for artists to create and be regarded without needing the approval of the Salon is a major focus here, as is his involvement in the Impressionist Exhibitions between 1874 and 1886. The book frames Degas as a highly influential creator of the movement despite his disdain for bohemians, painting outdoors, academics, and pretty much anyone who isn’t himself (he is also highly critical of Cassatt despite also encouraging her and respecting her) and explores how they launched him into fame.
The Little Fourteen-Year-Old Dancer sculpture from 1881
What I appreciated most was how Degas shares this story with that of Mary Cassatt and we see how their relationship influenced, comforted, yet also often frustrated them both. It portrays Cassatt and other women’s struggles in an art world dominated by men and how patriarchal gatekeeping was just as oppressive as Degas saw the gatekeeping of the Salon. Despite the belittling fro Degas, it was lovely to read this as a success story for Cassatt. ‘I’d found my place in a world of men,’ she says, ‘and made my voice as a woman heard. And that was good.’
Portrait of Cassatt by Degas (left) and Casatt’s self-portrait (right)
This framing also makes much of the book an exploration into the mysteries around Degas’ sexuality and leaves us with questions if he ever achieved inner peace, which Rubio poses along with quotes from Degas own letters to kickstart our thinking. The graphic novel takes the stance that Degas’ disinterest in women was part of his desire to make painting his entire life, something that is advised of him at a young age by French painter Jean Auguste Dominique Ingresin the opening of the book:
‘Devote yourself body and soul to painting. Live for painting! Make it your mistress, your bride, and your wife.’
We see how Degas rejects Manet’s constant affairs with women and believes it to be rotting his ability as an artist, though this belief still does not justify his misogyny in general. It did remind me, too, of something I recently read in Annie Jeng’s wonderful recent review of the book You Must Change Your Life: The Story of Rainer Maria Rilke and Auguste Rodin about Rodin telling Rilke he must change his entire life and bend it towards art to be successful.
I really enjoyed this book and learned quite a lot. It is well paced and beautiful to look at, and while some of the frames can get very wordy at times it never really bogs it down. Degas is a complicated individual and this goes well to show why he was so well regarded despite his many flaws and the frustrations of those who knew him and I enjoyed learning so much about Cassett as well. A must have for art lovers!
⅘
April 11, 2022
My second book read from this artistic team (the first one being Django: Hand on Fire), and it doesn't disappoint. This is how you write an interesting biographical story - yes, you show the artistic work, but you also show the human that Degas was, a human that was a bit of an arse.Efa's art is beautiful yet again, and the whole book ends on a really moving note.
(Picked up a review copy through NetGalley)
September 4, 2024
نویسنده و تصویرگر تلاش کردهاند تا همان راه موفق کتاب قبلیشان، مونه را با زندگینامه دگا و رابطهاش با نقاش امریکایی،ماری کاسات تکرار کنند.
اما به نظرم نویسنده نتوانسته است روایتی گیرا و دلچسب براساس تصاویر کتاب خلق کند. بسیاری از تصاویر کتاب، عملا هیچ نقشی در روایت بازی نمیکنند و فقط کشیده شدهاند تا جای خالی بین کلمات رو پر کنند.
روایت به جای نشان دادن داستان کشیده شدن نقاشیهای دگا، تنها وقایع تاریخیای را ذکر میکند که میتوان آنها را در ویکیپدیا نیز پیدا کرد. و وقتی که به سراغ داستان رابطه عاشقانهطور او هم میرود، آنرا به نچسبترین شکل ممکن روایت میکند.
تصویرگر هم در اینجا برعکس کتاب مونه، نتوانسته است ارجاعات کافی به تابلوهای دگا داشته باشد و جاسازی تابلوهای موجود هم به تصنعیترین شکل ممکن انجام شدهاند.
اما به نظرم نویسنده نتوانسته است روایتی گیرا و دلچسب براساس تصاویر کتاب خلق کند. بسیاری از تصاویر کتاب، عملا هیچ نقشی در روایت بازی نمیکنند و فقط کشیده شدهاند تا جای خالی بین کلمات رو پر کنند.
روایت به جای نشان دادن داستان کشیده شدن نقاشیهای دگا، تنها وقایع تاریخیای را ذکر میکند که میتوان آنها را در ویکیپدیا نیز پیدا کرد. و وقتی که به سراغ داستان رابطه عاشقانهطور او هم میرود، آنرا به نچسبترین شکل ممکن روایت میکند.
تصویرگر هم در اینجا برعکس کتاب مونه، نتوانسته است ارجاعات کافی به تابلوهای دگا داشته باشد و جاسازی تابلوهای موجود هم به تصنعیترین شکل ممکن انجام شدهاند.
February 7, 2022
Edgar Degas was a French artist famous for his pastel oil paintings of mostly women and ballerinas. He is a founder of impressionism, but he didn’t like to be called an impressionist painter. This graphic novel tells the story of his relationship with painter Mary Cassatt. They had similar tastes and views on art. They were both single, independent, and never married. This graphic novel depicts Degas as a pretty unusual and grumpy character, which he was.
Art is very beautiful. Illustrations are impressionistic and look like Degas’s oil paintings.
The plot can be slow sometimes, but I think those who appreciate art will like this look at Degas’s life.
Thanks to Europe Comics for the ARC and this opportunity! This is a voluntary review, and all opinions are my own.
Art is very beautiful. Illustrations are impressionistic and look like Degas’s oil paintings.
The plot can be slow sometimes, but I think those who appreciate art will like this look at Degas’s life.
Thanks to Europe Comics for the ARC and this opportunity! This is a voluntary review, and all opinions are my own.
January 25, 2022
Visually, this worked a lot more than it did text-wise. For it's quite the lumpen, wordy and dull account of Degas's days as a struggling artist, then in the company of the American painter and dealer Mary Cassatt. The style is fine, however – when her voice-over comes into play she tells us all he has boasted of intending to make as sets of works, and we see examples of them as if from his hands, only to be told he finished no such works at all; many are the frames that clearly reference classics of the time, and those that aren't look as if they could do; we see him advise as to the "Little Girl in a Blue Armchair" piece. So it's up to the nearly drama-free, episodic narrative to try and bring to life the spirit of the times, with Degas footling around with the "Bohemian" artists his father detested, and breaking away from the tradition of the shows at the Salon that entranced Manet with ideas of prizes, medals and fame, instead of showing and selling on one's own terms.
The book on Monet elsewhere in this ad hoc series – https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... – was a lot more successful, and this really manages to underplay much to its detriment how it's showing the birth of the Impressionist movement from an angle not known to the general browser. Yes, there are intrigues about the man's character, especially up against Cassatt, but while this is admirable in its look, and of note to any number of art historians, it's too easy to imagine a telling of the story that lifts itself off the page in much less ungainly a fashion.
The book on Monet elsewhere in this ad hoc series – https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... – was a lot more successful, and this really manages to underplay much to its detriment how it's showing the birth of the Impressionist movement from an angle not known to the general browser. Yes, there are intrigues about the man's character, especially up against Cassatt, but while this is admirable in its look, and of note to any number of art historians, it's too easy to imagine a telling of the story that lifts itself off the page in much less ungainly a fashion.
October 31, 2022
Прекрасно намальована біографія знаменитого імпресіоніста, яка привідкриває завісу до побуту й таємниць митців його часу. Люблю картини Деґа, тож було цікаво зазірнути в його непросте скандальне життя, а творці мальопису, в яких я вже читала Django, Hand On Fire: The Great Django Reinhardt, не розчаровують ні в художньому плані, ні в написанні сюжету, діалогів і персонажей.
November 8, 2021
J'ai beaucoup aimé les dessins et le point de vue porté sur Degas, personnage fort solitaire et pas toujours sympathique au premier abord. J'aime lire sur ce monde et cette époque!
February 6, 2022
Une BD de qualité comme celle-ci nous rapproche d'une époque et d'un art difficilement compréhensibles pour nous. Apparemment, comme c'était aussi le cas des impressionnistes à qui son style n'appartenait pas, Edgar Degas était une personne de grand caractère qui savait nager à contre-courant pour accomplir ce qu'il entreprenait. Excellent travail de Salva Rubio et Ricard Efa dans cette série.
January 25, 2025
Degas and Cassatt: A Solitary Dance offers a captivating glimpse into the lives of two remarkable artists. Edgar Degas, one of the founders of the Impressionist movement, was both its staunchest critic and an enigmatic figure—too bohemian for the bourgeois and too bourgeois for the artists, as stated on the book jacket. Known for his grouchy demeanor, Degas remained a loner, deeply committed to his art. His only enduring affection was for the American painter Mary Cassatt, though their relationship was never romantic. Instead, their bond was one of mutual inspiration, experimentation, and challenge.
The graphic novel itself is visually stunning, with illustrations that beautifully capture Degas’ pastel textures and realism of middle-class Parisian life, making it perhaps the most gorgeous graphic novel I’ve ever read. It’s a work that feels truly worthy of its subjects.
Equally fascinating is the contrast between Degas and Manet, who were friends but opposites in every way. This exploration of relationships—whether collaborative or contradictory—enriches the narrative and adds layers of depth. Overall, a truly compelling story that I enjoyed quite a lot. I also enjoyed periodically revisiting Degas’ work via Google during the read while listening to some 19th c. French music. Lovely overall.
The graphic novel itself is visually stunning, with illustrations that beautifully capture Degas’ pastel textures and realism of middle-class Parisian life, making it perhaps the most gorgeous graphic novel I’ve ever read. It’s a work that feels truly worthy of its subjects.
Equally fascinating is the contrast between Degas and Manet, who were friends but opposites in every way. This exploration of relationships—whether collaborative or contradictory—enriches the narrative and adds layers of depth. Overall, a truly compelling story that I enjoyed quite a lot. I also enjoyed periodically revisiting Degas’ work via Google during the read while listening to some 19th c. French music. Lovely overall.
March 9, 2025
225×320 HC 'contre/champ' ¦ a.i. 08/2021 ¦ d.l. 09/2021 = eo(noté)
—>16 pages full of Degas' work and bio info by Rubio
Narrative: *****
Visual: *****
My only problem with this masterpiece is not including Cassatt in the title!
—>16 pages full of Degas' work and bio info by Rubio
Narrative: *****
Visual: *****
My only problem with this masterpiece is not including Cassatt in the title!
March 19, 2022
Europe Comics has been publishing a handful of classical art and literature biographies as of late, and I’m all for it. Much like with a similar book, Mademoiselle Baudelaire, the format of a graphic novel takes a name from an art history book, a stuffy footnote at best, and breathes life into them. I feel as if something like this is far more beneficial to someone learning about said artist vs a list of dates to memorize. The subject for this review is a book called Degas and Cassatt – The Dance of Solitude by Salva Rubio and Efa, which covers the life of famous impressionist artist Edgar Degas and his relationship with a woman that was perhaps his only real friend.
“Founder of the Impressionist movement of which he was one of the most merciless critics, too bohemian for the bourgeois and too bourgeois for the artists, Edgar Degas was a man of many paradoxes. A loner, he loved only one woman without ever courting her. Looking into this unique relationship at the twilight of Degas’ life, Efa and Rubio open the pages of the artist’s notebooks hoping to unravel the mystery of this genius full of contradictions.”
While there isn’t a plausible way for the artist to 100% copy the art style, you can tell that this was a VERY ambitious project to capture the style and tone of Degas’ notable impressionist artistic style. Everyone is drawn in pastel, or a passable simulacra of pastel paintings. This is not reserved for the handful of reproductions of his famous paintings we see alluded to, but a stylistic choice done throughout the entire comic. if this was, in fact, all hand-drawn the amount of time that went into this had to have been quite immense.
The book is mostly about the tumultuous relationship between Degas and one of his proteges, an artist named Mary Cassatt. many have questioned whether Degas had more than a working relationship with Cassatt, but no letters exist to show they had any sort of “fling” and a handful of his contemporaries derided him as being celibate or even impotent. The two were inseparable for a time, with either one helping to train or promote the other in their opposite respective countries (Cassatt was American). The narrative here is book-ended by an aged Cassatt visiting the grave of Degas after his death and realizing that the man was more than he let on to be via his journals.
The same sort of relationship definitely did not exist between Degas and the majority of his other art acquaintances, we see his utter disdain for “bohemian artists”, which could explain why so many (for example Van Gogh) slagged him off to such a degree in letters. Most of his “friendships” are portrayed as mere networking relationships, or alliances of convenience. It’s almost as if Degas only stomached personal interactions as a way to further his artistic pursuits. Degas was very affluent and conservative, so the ostentatious way in which other artists lived had to have made him sick. Degas also did not help matters by being nigh insufferable to be around, voicing his STRONG opinions on things in the open rather than keeping it to himself.
This was an amazing comic due to the art and the way it captures the souls of both Degas and Cassatt. The comic does not glamorize anything, nor does it go on crazy tangents to create drama out of thin air, so the whole thing seems VERY plausible despite being historical fiction to a large degree. I’m not the most well-read on art history, so something like this was definitely something up my alley and I feel like I learned a lot from reading it. Seasoned art-historians likely have different opinions, but for me this was perfect. If you are an art fan, or have a trip to a museum coming up, this might be a good read to do in conjunction with that, as my readers know I always try to couple educational trips with books.
“Founder of the Impressionist movement of which he was one of the most merciless critics, too bohemian for the bourgeois and too bourgeois for the artists, Edgar Degas was a man of many paradoxes. A loner, he loved only one woman without ever courting her. Looking into this unique relationship at the twilight of Degas’ life, Efa and Rubio open the pages of the artist’s notebooks hoping to unravel the mystery of this genius full of contradictions.”
While there isn’t a plausible way for the artist to 100% copy the art style, you can tell that this was a VERY ambitious project to capture the style and tone of Degas’ notable impressionist artistic style. Everyone is drawn in pastel, or a passable simulacra of pastel paintings. This is not reserved for the handful of reproductions of his famous paintings we see alluded to, but a stylistic choice done throughout the entire comic. if this was, in fact, all hand-drawn the amount of time that went into this had to have been quite immense.
The book is mostly about the tumultuous relationship between Degas and one of his proteges, an artist named Mary Cassatt. many have questioned whether Degas had more than a working relationship with Cassatt, but no letters exist to show they had any sort of “fling” and a handful of his contemporaries derided him as being celibate or even impotent. The two were inseparable for a time, with either one helping to train or promote the other in their opposite respective countries (Cassatt was American). The narrative here is book-ended by an aged Cassatt visiting the grave of Degas after his death and realizing that the man was more than he let on to be via his journals.
The same sort of relationship definitely did not exist between Degas and the majority of his other art acquaintances, we see his utter disdain for “bohemian artists”, which could explain why so many (for example Van Gogh) slagged him off to such a degree in letters. Most of his “friendships” are portrayed as mere networking relationships, or alliances of convenience. It’s almost as if Degas only stomached personal interactions as a way to further his artistic pursuits. Degas was very affluent and conservative, so the ostentatious way in which other artists lived had to have made him sick. Degas also did not help matters by being nigh insufferable to be around, voicing his STRONG opinions on things in the open rather than keeping it to himself.
This was an amazing comic due to the art and the way it captures the souls of both Degas and Cassatt. The comic does not glamorize anything, nor does it go on crazy tangents to create drama out of thin air, so the whole thing seems VERY plausible despite being historical fiction to a large degree. I’m not the most well-read on art history, so something like this was definitely something up my alley and I feel like I learned a lot from reading it. Seasoned art-historians likely have different opinions, but for me this was perfect. If you are an art fan, or have a trip to a museum coming up, this might be a good read to do in conjunction with that, as my readers know I always try to couple educational trips with books.
December 7, 2021
Degas. De dans van de eenzaamheid. Scenario: Salva Rubio. Tekeningen en inkleuring: Efa.
Afgelopen jaar las ik al een graphic novel over Charles Baudelaire en één over Anaïs Nin, beide een ferme aanrader. Als voormalig balletmeisje keek ik ook uit naar deze Degas. Als kind had ik een kaartje met een afbeelding van balletmeisjes van Degas op mijn prikbord, later zag ik in La petite danseuse in Musee D’Orsay. Zij blies me echt van mijn sokken.
Graphic novels zijn een uitstekend medium om iemands leven te vertellen; de combinatie van woord en beeld zorgt voor veel ruimte voor detail én laat genoeg plaats om dit alles te verwerken. Degas de strip, doet Degas de schilder alle eer aan. Zijn leven wordt gedetailleerd en vol liefde (in al zijn donkerte en eenzaamheid) vakkundig weergegeven in woord én beeld. De tekeningen lijken wel geschilderd, er zijn amper zwarte omlijningen en de kleuren zijn zacht en krachtig tegelijk. De tekstvlakken zijn doorzichtig zodat de illustratie niet wordt onderbroken, prachtig gedaan.
Rubio en Efa werkten al eerder samen, ze brachten al een strip over Monet uit en die wil ik ook graag lezen. Degas lijkt me geen makkelijke, aangename mens geweest te zijn. En toch lees je vol nieuwsgierigheid en meelevendheid verder, dankzij het talent van Rubio en Efa. Naast Degas komen ook de boeiende Mary Cassatt en de groep impressionisten uitgebreid aan bod. Op het einde van het boek volgt nog een geschreven nawoord, om extra (biografische) duiding te geven.
Degas blijkt niet de man te zijn wie ik dacht dat hij was. Maar ik ben blij dat ik hem dankzij dit prachtige boek in al zijn gelaagdheid heb leren kennen. Aanrader!
Afgelopen jaar las ik al een graphic novel over Charles Baudelaire en één over Anaïs Nin, beide een ferme aanrader. Als voormalig balletmeisje keek ik ook uit naar deze Degas. Als kind had ik een kaartje met een afbeelding van balletmeisjes van Degas op mijn prikbord, later zag ik in La petite danseuse in Musee D’Orsay. Zij blies me echt van mijn sokken.
Graphic novels zijn een uitstekend medium om iemands leven te vertellen; de combinatie van woord en beeld zorgt voor veel ruimte voor detail én laat genoeg plaats om dit alles te verwerken. Degas de strip, doet Degas de schilder alle eer aan. Zijn leven wordt gedetailleerd en vol liefde (in al zijn donkerte en eenzaamheid) vakkundig weergegeven in woord én beeld. De tekeningen lijken wel geschilderd, er zijn amper zwarte omlijningen en de kleuren zijn zacht en krachtig tegelijk. De tekstvlakken zijn doorzichtig zodat de illustratie niet wordt onderbroken, prachtig gedaan.
Rubio en Efa werkten al eerder samen, ze brachten al een strip over Monet uit en die wil ik ook graag lezen. Degas lijkt me geen makkelijke, aangename mens geweest te zijn. En toch lees je vol nieuwsgierigheid en meelevendheid verder, dankzij het talent van Rubio en Efa. Naast Degas komen ook de boeiende Mary Cassatt en de groep impressionisten uitgebreid aan bod. Op het einde van het boek volgt nog een geschreven nawoord, om extra (biografische) duiding te geven.
Degas blijkt niet de man te zijn wie ik dacht dat hij was. Maar ik ben blij dat ik hem dankzij dit prachtige boek in al zijn gelaagdheid heb leren kennen. Aanrader!
January 10, 2022
The art in this graphic novel is beautiful and fitting the style Edward Degas. It begins with Degas who wants to paint but his father expects him to use his education and dabble in art on the side. It continues chronologically as he tries to break from the classic styles of the salon system and joins but never feels he belongs with the Impressionists. The book is informational when mentioning the Impressionist and their exhibitions. The story continues on through his life and includes his friendship with Mary Cassatt. And the later part is her reflections back on his life.
Degas was a painstaking artist that didn't like Impressionist style of Monet and others who worked quickly outdoors. He also had a long list of things he didn't like including women and jews. None of this was explained or elaborated on in the novel and sent me to wikipedia for more information. I did like that I recognized many of his works throughout the story. But the written part was weaker. I shouldn't have had to check outside sources to understand a panels where he and Cassatt were working on a project together. And I don't mind nudity in art but found the ending section odd and out of place wondering how it fit the story being told. It felt gratuitous.
This graphic novel is for geared for adults. I did learn some new things about Degas but it all felt very subjective more than informative. Thank you NetGalley and European Comics for a temporary eARC in exchange for an honest review.
**I read an English version that doesn't appear yet on Goodreads. I will switch my review to that version when it is available.
Degas was a painstaking artist that didn't like Impressionist style of Monet and others who worked quickly outdoors. He also had a long list of things he didn't like including women and jews. None of this was explained or elaborated on in the novel and sent me to wikipedia for more information. I did like that I recognized many of his works throughout the story. But the written part was weaker. I shouldn't have had to check outside sources to understand a panels where he and Cassatt were working on a project together. And I don't mind nudity in art but found the ending section odd and out of place wondering how it fit the story being told. It felt gratuitous.
This graphic novel is for geared for adults. I did learn some new things about Degas but it all felt very subjective more than informative. Thank you NetGalley and European Comics for a temporary eARC in exchange for an honest review.
**I read an English version that doesn't appear yet on Goodreads. I will switch my review to that version when it is available.
February 23, 2022
This book is a lovely work of art, apart from being an interesting biography of sorts, of both Degas and Mary Cassatt. The panels are drawn in a beautiful Impressionistic style, with several paying homage to great works of art. I learnt quite a lot about the various factions( such as they were) of art in the late 19th Century, and what they believed in, and Degas' part in uniting them against the rigid Salon des Beaux Artes. I didn't know much about Mary Cassatt, and her close friendship with Degas, and she isn't depicted merely as a sidekick- she led a full and complete life, and her paintings depicting mothers and children are not shown to stem from similar desires herself, she was perfectly happy with her life as an artist. Degas was a complicated ,rather unpleasant man, and this work isn't a hagiography, it's meant to show him as a person,and how he evolved his unique style. Fascinating read, and a labour of love clearly, with each panel a glowing work of art
May 19, 2025
"Art is not what you see, but what you make others see."
১৮৩৪ সালে প্যারিসে এডগার দেগা এক ধনী ব্যাংকার পরিবারে জন্মগ্রহণ করে। বাবার ইচ্ছার বিরুদ্ধে তিনি শিল্পী হবার সিদ্ধান্ত নেন। তিনি ইম্প্রশনিস্ট আন্দোলনের নেতৃত্বে ছিলেন। স্যালনের বিপরীতে নিজেদের ইম্প্রেশনিস্ট প্রদর্শনী চালিয়ে যান। এখানে তার সাথে যুক্ত হন মনেট,ম্যানেট সহ বিখ্যাত শিল্পীরা। এই আন্দোলনে তিনি যুক্ত করেন আমেরিকান নারী শিল্পী মেরী ক্যাসাটকে । উভয়ে পরস্পরের দ্বারা প্রভাবিত ছিলেন,একে অপরের কাছ থেকে শিল্পকলার নানা কৌশল শিখেন। একে অপরের কাজকে সম্মান করতেন, তদুপরি তাদের মধ্যে খুব ভালো বন্ধুত্ব ছিল। দেগা ক্যাসাটকে নারী শরীরের অদেখা রূপ আঁকতে উৎসাহিত করেন। তাদের বন্ধুত্ব কখনো পরিণতির দিকে রূপ নেয়নি। তবে তাদের পরস্পরের প্রতি শৈল্পিক অনুভুতি ছিল।দেগা ও ক্যাসাট সারাজীবন অবিবাহিত ছিলেন।
দেখা ছিল একগুঁয়ে, খিটখিটে মেজাজের ও নিজ সিদ্ধান্তের বিষয়ে অনড় । অনেকের সাথে বন্ধুত্ব হলেও তা বেশিদিন টিকে থাকেনি। চোখের সমস্যা ছিল তার সারাজীবনের সঙ্গী।
ছবি আঁকার বিষয় হিসেবে তিনি মানব শরীরকে বেছে নেন। তিনি ব্যালে নর্তকীদের ছবি আঁকতেন। তিনি তাদের প্রস্তুতির মুহূর্ত , শারীরিক যন্ত্রণা ও অঙ্গভঙ্গি ক্যানভাসে বন্দি করেন। মাঝেমাঝে ব্রোথেলে গিয়ে রূপজীবীনীদেরও ছবি আঁকতেন। তাদের সাবলিল গৃহস্থালির চিত্র তিনি এঁকেছেন। সমাজ যেসব নারীদের দেখতে চাইতো না তিনি সেইসব নারীদের তার শিল্পের বিষয় হিসেবে গণ্য করেছেন।
তিনি নারীসঙ্গ পছন্দ করতেন কিন্তু ব্যক্তিগত জীবনে তিনি ছিলেন নিঃসঙ্গ, বিষন্ন।
১৯১৭ সালে এই নিঃসঙ্গ মহান শিল্পী মারা যান। পরবর্তীতে তার কাজ অনেকের জন্য অনুপ্রেরণা হিসেবে কাজ করে।
১৮৩৪ সালে প্যারিসে এডগার দেগা এক ধনী ব্যাংকার পরিবারে জন্মগ্রহণ করে। বাবার ইচ্ছার বিরুদ্ধে তিনি শিল্পী হবার সিদ্ধান্ত নেন। তিনি ইম্প্রশনিস্ট আন্দোলনের নেতৃত্বে ছিলেন। স্যালনের বিপরীতে নিজেদের ইম্প্রেশনিস্ট প্রদর্শনী চালিয়ে যান। এখানে তার সাথে যুক্ত হন মনেট,ম্যানেট সহ বিখ্যাত শিল্পীরা। এই আন্দোলনে তিনি যুক্ত করেন আমেরিকান নারী শিল্পী মেরী ক্যাসাটকে । উভয়ে পরস্পরের দ্বারা প্রভাবিত ছিলেন,একে অপরের কাছ থেকে শিল্পকলার নানা কৌশল শিখেন। একে অপরের কাজকে সম্মান করতেন, তদুপরি তাদের মধ্যে খুব ভালো বন্ধুত্ব ছিল। দেগা ক্যাসাটকে নারী শরীরের অদেখা রূপ আঁকতে উৎসাহিত করেন। তাদের বন্ধুত্ব কখনো পরিণতির দিকে রূপ নেয়নি। তবে তাদের পরস্পরের প্রতি শৈল্পিক অনুভুতি ছিল।দেগা ও ক্যাসাট সারাজীবন অবিবাহিত ছিলেন।
দেখা ছিল একগুঁয়ে, খিটখিটে মেজাজের ও নিজ সিদ্ধান্তের বিষয়ে অনড় । অনেকের সাথে বন্ধুত্ব হলেও তা বেশিদিন টিকে থাকেনি। চোখের সমস্যা ছিল তার সারাজীবনের সঙ্গী।
ছবি আঁকার বিষয় হিসেবে তিনি মানব শরীরকে বেছে নেন। তিনি ব্যালে নর্তকীদের ছবি আঁকতেন। তিনি তাদের প্রস্তুতির মুহূর্ত , শারীরিক যন্ত্রণা ও অঙ্গভঙ্গি ক্যানভাসে বন্দি করেন। মাঝেমাঝে ব্রোথেলে গিয়ে রূপজীবীনীদেরও ছবি আঁকতেন। তাদের সাবলিল গৃহস্থালির চিত্র তিনি এঁকেছেন। সমাজ যেসব নারীদের দেখতে চাইতো না তিনি সেইসব নারীদের তার শিল্পের বিষয় হিসেবে গণ্য করেছেন।
তিনি নারীসঙ্গ পছন্দ করতেন কিন্তু ব্যক্তিগত জীবনে তিনি ছিলেন নিঃসঙ্গ, বিষন্ন।
১৯১৭ সালে এই নিঃসঙ্গ মহান শিল্পী মারা যান। পরবর্তীতে তার কাজ অনেকের জন্য অনুপ্রেরণা হিসেবে কাজ করে।
August 4, 2024
This is a great book for someone who’s a classical art buff. I didn’t really totally understand what was going on in the beginning- but understood later. The art in this graphic novel is beautiful and pleasing to the eye. It’s a short read- maybe 30 minutes or so.
Makes me ponder on the rumors that Degas was actually a serial killer. Nothing of the sort mentioned in this book- he was an odd ball for sure.
Makes me ponder on the rumors that Degas was actually a serial killer. Nothing of the sort mentioned in this book- he was an odd ball for sure.
October 4, 2025
Beautifully rendered (in pastels) and nicely scripted.
July 27, 2022
3.5/5
I always liked Degas' paintings a lot, since I found a copy of one of his at home as a child. I was fascinated by the colors and the little dancers. One day while in college a friend of mine pointed out how much she did not like Degas. She said she found the paintings creepy: something about the man painting those little girls didn't sit right with her. And as much as I enjoyed the paintings, I couldn't argue with that, or deny her arguments. When I stumbled accross this graphic novel, I decided to read it not just because I was in search of a quick read, but because I suddenly remembered with much clarity the conversation I'd had with my friend. I realized, with some surprise that I knew literally nothing about the man behind the paintings. Who was this possibly very creepy Degas anyways? What did he do in life other than painting?
This graphic novel presents us with an account of the life of Degas, one that tries to delve into some of his contraictions --that being one of the main points in the narrative-- while being generally very sympathetic towards the man. The portrayal is interesting, through fairly simple and not all that profound. It raises a couple question it does answer throughout its duration, but I ended up with the feeling I knew less than ever about Edgar Degas the man, though I had learned a little bit more about his time and context.
The novel is divided in four sections, the first starting with Degas' funeral, second being about his youth, third marked by his meeting with American painter Mary Cassatt until it wraps up at the begining of the story, and a fourth part that is more of a side story takign place in the final days before Degas' passing. The narration started off rather weak. I found the writing sort of unappealing during the first half, not much intriguing and trying far too hard to make Degas likeable. However, I found the second half much more interesting: the evolution of his relationship with Manet, the overview of the Impressionists' expositions, and most of all the introduction of Cassatt whose figure and work was practically unkown to me until now. Though the writing was a little plain at times, I felt it growing on me and enjoyed the later parts of the book the most. I found part four to be especially moving. My final impression was that, though a little too didactic and tending to a rather bland coming-of-age feel in the first half, Salva Rubio's writing was overall suitable enough, and his interest in the time period is palpable.
But I can't talk about this work without referring to the art. The art is, perhaps, one of the most important things when we talk of graphic novels. While the writing can sometimes be excused when it's not great, the art can truly make or break a work of this type. It must at once be in syncrony with the writing, and elevate the writing. It must be able to suit the mood of the text narration and show all that is not being told. And in that, Efa's art is an absolute success. With delicacy, beauty and attention to detail he provides the livelihood that the story may otherwise lack. He renders, in his own style, many paintings form the time period, while keeping the art reminiscent to that of Degas and his peers. The visual narration worked perfectly well, and shines through especially during the speechless scenes. The art is stylish, delicate, soft and compelling. I'd say this is worth the read even if just for the art alone --unless you're like my friend and find Degas' creepy, then this won't shange much your opinion on him. Efa's art is be beautiful, flows very well narratively, perfectly fits the story and is pleasing on the eye.
I always liked Degas' paintings a lot, since I found a copy of one of his at home as a child. I was fascinated by the colors and the little dancers. One day while in college a friend of mine pointed out how much she did not like Degas. She said she found the paintings creepy: something about the man painting those little girls didn't sit right with her. And as much as I enjoyed the paintings, I couldn't argue with that, or deny her arguments. When I stumbled accross this graphic novel, I decided to read it not just because I was in search of a quick read, but because I suddenly remembered with much clarity the conversation I'd had with my friend. I realized, with some surprise that I knew literally nothing about the man behind the paintings. Who was this possibly very creepy Degas anyways? What did he do in life other than painting?
This graphic novel presents us with an account of the life of Degas, one that tries to delve into some of his contraictions --that being one of the main points in the narrative-- while being generally very sympathetic towards the man. The portrayal is interesting, through fairly simple and not all that profound. It raises a couple question it does answer throughout its duration, but I ended up with the feeling I knew less than ever about Edgar Degas the man, though I had learned a little bit more about his time and context.
The novel is divided in four sections, the first starting with Degas' funeral, second being about his youth, third marked by his meeting with American painter Mary Cassatt until it wraps up at the begining of the story, and a fourth part that is more of a side story takign place in the final days before Degas' passing. The narration started off rather weak. I found the writing sort of unappealing during the first half, not much intriguing and trying far too hard to make Degas likeable. However, I found the second half much more interesting: the evolution of his relationship with Manet, the overview of the Impressionists' expositions, and most of all the introduction of Cassatt whose figure and work was practically unkown to me until now. Though the writing was a little plain at times, I felt it growing on me and enjoyed the later parts of the book the most. I found part four to be especially moving. My final impression was that, though a little too didactic and tending to a rather bland coming-of-age feel in the first half, Salva Rubio's writing was overall suitable enough, and his interest in the time period is palpable.
But I can't talk about this work without referring to the art. The art is, perhaps, one of the most important things when we talk of graphic novels. While the writing can sometimes be excused when it's not great, the art can truly make or break a work of this type. It must at once be in syncrony with the writing, and elevate the writing. It must be able to suit the mood of the text narration and show all that is not being told. And in that, Efa's art is an absolute success. With delicacy, beauty and attention to detail he provides the livelihood that the story may otherwise lack. He renders, in his own style, many paintings form the time period, while keeping the art reminiscent to that of Degas and his peers. The visual narration worked perfectly well, and shines through especially during the speechless scenes. The art is stylish, delicate, soft and compelling. I'd say this is worth the read even if just for the art alone --unless you're like my friend and find Degas' creepy, then this won't shange much your opinion on him. Efa's art is be beautiful, flows very well narratively, perfectly fits the story and is pleasing on the eye.
January 28, 2022
Thanks to NetGalley, for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
In another life I would have likely pursued a degree in Art History. And in that life I would probably still be working in libraries making an okay living instead of, I don't know, curating the Met? My artistic skills aren't for anyone to witness but my sketchbook, so delving into the history surrounding the paintings and sculptures I love is the next best thing. That's what drew me to this graphic novel, but what kept invested in it was the humanizing depiction of the grumpy Degas.
A year or two ago I read Salva Rubio's graphic memoir of Monet's life, Monet: Itinerant of Light. It was a 3-star read for me. My biggest take away was, despite his breathtaking plein air landscapes and that cute picture book we read in art class about him being a kindly old man, he was a total dick to his first wife.
Degas and Cassatt seemed likely to make a similar impression, however, Rubio manages to make a privileged, pretentious, spoiled young man somehow...relatable? Sympathetic? The first half of the story focuses on Degas as a burgeoning young master who takes advantage of the Impressionists in his proximity to get out of the Salon. He cannot stand the bohemian Impressionists, but neither can he bear the limitations of the Salon. Ambitious and anxious, he finds his place by painting people rather than landscapes, becoming particularly engrossed in depicting dancers at the Paris Opera.
When Cassatt enters the picture, everyone in their circle assumes they're destined to be. She, somehow, can stand the conceited older man who loathes her dogs and sometimes snatches brushes out of her hand to "fix" her canvas. They become friends and at time, collaborators. He allows her to accompany him to ballet practice where she sees he's not a leering creep, but a grandfatherly figure to the impoverished ballet "rats."
Their friendship and its highs and lows become the central focus of the plot for the latter half of the book. I was totally unaware of their relationship, so it was a cool experience to witness how they influenced one another. I see many others say the pacing is slow, however, I found it to be appropriate especially considering the span of years covered.
The artwork that illustrates this story is other worldly. Rubio obviously takes great pains to make us feel as though were are immersed in a Degas or Cassatt painting. The use of airy colors, his depiction of light and texture, all do so much work in setting the reader in the late 19th century-early 20th.
In comparison to Rubio's earlier Monet book, I found Degas and Cassatt's depictions a lot more sympathetic. It was a pleasure to read and I look forward to his next opportunity to cover the life of a great master.
In another life I would have likely pursued a degree in Art History. And in that life I would probably still be working in libraries making an okay living instead of, I don't know, curating the Met? My artistic skills aren't for anyone to witness but my sketchbook, so delving into the history surrounding the paintings and sculptures I love is the next best thing. That's what drew me to this graphic novel, but what kept invested in it was the humanizing depiction of the grumpy Degas.
A year or two ago I read Salva Rubio's graphic memoir of Monet's life, Monet: Itinerant of Light. It was a 3-star read for me. My biggest take away was, despite his breathtaking plein air landscapes and that cute picture book we read in art class about him being a kindly old man, he was a total dick to his first wife.
Degas and Cassatt seemed likely to make a similar impression, however, Rubio manages to make a privileged, pretentious, spoiled young man somehow...relatable? Sympathetic? The first half of the story focuses on Degas as a burgeoning young master who takes advantage of the Impressionists in his proximity to get out of the Salon. He cannot stand the bohemian Impressionists, but neither can he bear the limitations of the Salon. Ambitious and anxious, he finds his place by painting people rather than landscapes, becoming particularly engrossed in depicting dancers at the Paris Opera.
When Cassatt enters the picture, everyone in their circle assumes they're destined to be. She, somehow, can stand the conceited older man who loathes her dogs and sometimes snatches brushes out of her hand to "fix" her canvas. They become friends and at time, collaborators. He allows her to accompany him to ballet practice where she sees he's not a leering creep, but a grandfatherly figure to the impoverished ballet "rats."
Their friendship and its highs and lows become the central focus of the plot for the latter half of the book. I was totally unaware of their relationship, so it was a cool experience to witness how they influenced one another. I see many others say the pacing is slow, however, I found it to be appropriate especially considering the span of years covered.
The artwork that illustrates this story is other worldly. Rubio obviously takes great pains to make us feel as though were are immersed in a Degas or Cassatt painting. The use of airy colors, his depiction of light and texture, all do so much work in setting the reader in the late 19th century-early 20th.
In comparison to Rubio's earlier Monet book, I found Degas and Cassatt's depictions a lot more sympathetic. It was a pleasure to read and I look forward to his next opportunity to cover the life of a great master.
May 1, 2024
A graphic novel told from the point of view of Edgar Degas himself, the flow of the text is romantic, artistic and even a bit abstract. We see the life of an artist with contradictions surrounding him, the selfishness and the reasons behind his lifestyle. The arrogance of the Degas oozes off the page, the haughty attitude towards dogs (nothing is worse than a dog, unless it is …. and he rattles off a laundry list of worse things, turning back eventually to dogs). The snobbery of his father (finally allowing his son to pursue being an artist with the stipulation “don’t be a bohemian” and yet, Degas’ path would lead him on a similar path). And that was just the first quarter of the book, and where I stopped reading.
We start of it is what looks like an older woman speaking of Degas at his death. Rubio then goes into the life and times of our male artist. Perhaps more of a “feel of the person and times” than a true biography, a lot is going on in this book. The illustrations have a feeling of the style of the times, the colors and details being not only a supporting character of the text, but also its own character. Plus, you can locate some fun Easter Eggs that find their way to the page, allowing you to glimpse art in a new fashion. This allows for things to have a classical tone and brings you to the era being lived. Many artists will be mentioned such as artists that inspired Degas and ones he immensely disliked. You might need a scorecard to keep track of them! Also, be careful of looking at them and their works (works mentioned) because I found myself going down one wild rabbit hole looking into some.
We are also given a new point of view with Mary Cassatt’s point of view brought into the mix. This book does keep getting better as you read along. And it is complicated but is good for those who like history, art or something not your usual read. However, it is not an easy read, as things are dense and the font can make it a smidgen hard to read at times. However, overall I am enjoying the journey.
Things are a bit crowded on the page, and even though the panels are neat, they can flow into each other, making for a slow read. Still, there is definitely potential for the art lover, history lover or someone looking for something a bit different to read.
Though available, read as a readers copy.
We start of it is what looks like an older woman speaking of Degas at his death. Rubio then goes into the life and times of our male artist. Perhaps more of a “feel of the person and times” than a true biography, a lot is going on in this book. The illustrations have a feeling of the style of the times, the colors and details being not only a supporting character of the text, but also its own character. Plus, you can locate some fun Easter Eggs that find their way to the page, allowing you to glimpse art in a new fashion. This allows for things to have a classical tone and brings you to the era being lived. Many artists will be mentioned such as artists that inspired Degas and ones he immensely disliked. You might need a scorecard to keep track of them! Also, be careful of looking at them and their works (works mentioned) because I found myself going down one wild rabbit hole looking into some.
We are also given a new point of view with Mary Cassatt’s point of view brought into the mix. This book does keep getting better as you read along. And it is complicated but is good for those who like history, art or something not your usual read. However, it is not an easy read, as things are dense and the font can make it a smidgen hard to read at times. However, overall I am enjoying the journey.
Things are a bit crowded on the page, and even though the panels are neat, they can flow into each other, making for a slow read. Still, there is definitely potential for the art lover, history lover or someone looking for something a bit different to read.
Though available, read as a readers copy.
January 10, 2024
This was fine. The artwork of the book was stunning and did a great job at portraying the artistic styles of both Degas and Cassatt. However, the content of the book was a bit lacking. It felt like just a general glimpse of Degas's life story while not diving in too deep to anything in particular and most of Cassatt's story was not really told. It would have been great if more of the story was shown rather than told. A good introduction to Degas and Cassatt but not at all near a really good look at their lives.
January 18, 2022
thanks to netgalley for the advance copy and to the author, to be honest the book has very good illustrations, they made me beautiful because of the illustrator's way of drawing but for me the problem was the story, I felt it was somewhat boring and slow.
March 14, 2024
A tumultuous tale of the working relationship of two notable bohemian artists…
Degas & Cassatt: A Solitary Dance by Salva Rubio is a close look at the artistic careers of Edgar Degas and Mary Cassatt, two notable artists of the late 19th century Paris scene.
Rather than try to be a biography of both, the story focuses on the beginning (or attempted start) of Degas’s artistic career and various setbacks that hindered him from breaking in (largely due to inexperience and him just being an entitled asshole). About midway, enter Mary Cassatt as her career becomes inextricably tied to her long time collaborator.
As we explore the bohemian art scene that Degas and Cassatt lived in, naturally there are cameos by various other artists (and would be artists) of the period (though I am a little surprised Van Gogh didn’t pop up unless I missed him).
I am unsure what sources the author drew form, but he clearly cares a lot about this paring…only breaking from the two interacting by showing how different Degas is around others (though some of his anger does impact Cassatt at times).
While I knew little about Degas’s life before this book, I enjoyed the attempt to showcase the character of this well regarded bohemian artist…while also giving some credit to Cassatt who was a decent artist in her own right.
The artist on this graphic novel did a wonderful job mimicking elements of Degas and Cassatt’s styles as part of the storytelling process.
Worth checking out if you like unusual graphic novels about artist figures you know little about.
Degas & Cassatt: A Solitary Dance by Salva Rubio is a close look at the artistic careers of Edgar Degas and Mary Cassatt, two notable artists of the late 19th century Paris scene.
Rather than try to be a biography of both, the story focuses on the beginning (or attempted start) of Degas’s artistic career and various setbacks that hindered him from breaking in (largely due to inexperience and him just being an entitled asshole). About midway, enter Mary Cassatt as her career becomes inextricably tied to her long time collaborator.
As we explore the bohemian art scene that Degas and Cassatt lived in, naturally there are cameos by various other artists (and would be artists) of the period (though I am a little surprised Van Gogh didn’t pop up unless I missed him).
I am unsure what sources the author drew form, but he clearly cares a lot about this paring…only breaking from the two interacting by showing how different Degas is around others (though some of his anger does impact Cassatt at times).
While I knew little about Degas’s life before this book, I enjoyed the attempt to showcase the character of this well regarded bohemian artist…while also giving some credit to Cassatt who was a decent artist in her own right.
The artist on this graphic novel did a wonderful job mimicking elements of Degas and Cassatt’s styles as part of the storytelling process.
Worth checking out if you like unusual graphic novels about artist figures you know little about.
April 27, 2024
Collaborations among avant-garde artists have always captured the imagination of art enthusiasts and scholars. Such partnerships have inspired creativity and innovation in style, perspective, and materials. Salva Rubio and artist Efa focuses on the decades-long friendship between Edgar Degas and Mary Cassatt, icons of the Impressionist movement. Degas, an artist who strongly critiqued the art establishment in Paris, has often held unorthodox views. Only a handful of his contemporaries could stand to be around him.
Arrogant and self-assured, it is a wonder that he fancied Cassatt, an American artist, who shared similar aesthetic sensibilities. Degas & Cassatt: A Solitary Dance details the precarious partnership between the two artists, who pursued their own visions while also colluding on shared aspirations to change the status quo in the 19th-century Parisian bourgeoisie.
While the friendship between the two artists has been documented in books and even featured in museum exhibitions, Rubio and Efa bring it to light in graphic novel format. Efa simulates the unique brush strokes of the famed artists in each frame, capturing the essence of Degas’ creative approach. Readers will come away with a refreshed understanding of how Degas and Cassatt led a group of iconoclasts who dreamed of novel ways to invite people from different backgrounds to engage in art.
Arrogant and self-assured, it is a wonder that he fancied Cassatt, an American artist, who shared similar aesthetic sensibilities. Degas & Cassatt: A Solitary Dance details the precarious partnership between the two artists, who pursued their own visions while also colluding on shared aspirations to change the status quo in the 19th-century Parisian bourgeoisie.
While the friendship between the two artists has been documented in books and even featured in museum exhibitions, Rubio and Efa bring it to light in graphic novel format. Efa simulates the unique brush strokes of the famed artists in each frame, capturing the essence of Degas’ creative approach. Readers will come away with a refreshed understanding of how Degas and Cassatt led a group of iconoclasts who dreamed of novel ways to invite people from different backgrounds to engage in art.
June 30, 2024
Illustrated beautifully in the patina of Degas, an intimate and historic journey through Degas inner thoughts, inspirations as well as the remarkable Cassatt (from Pittsburgh!?), who I had never heard of before this. I was excited to see that Degas' famous, revolutionary sculpture mentioned is on display at the National Gallery of Art right near me in DC - "The Little Dancer of Fourteen Years." Many historic artists are mentioned and invested with personality. For Degas in particular, his blunt sarcasm is funny, prescient and revealing, if not always appreciated. Degas' historic role and impact on art in France in the late 19th and early 20th century is also well told with a sense of the time. This is for mature audiences. There is nudity without sexuality, which often troubles and challenges American sensibilities, but done in the service of the story and in the sensibility of the times. It is, after all, about art and he painted ballet dancers.
April 8, 2024
The art is amazing, among the best I've encountered in graphic novels. It far outstrips most art in the genre, no question. It's beautiful. The writing/story was off to a decent start but it seemed to become stymied rather quickly. It's so disappointing when the writing and story don't match the effort put in by the artist. There were many interesting and emotionally effective pieces of visual storytelling in the book, but the choices in language-based storytelling made the whole thing kind of neutered and uninteresting. After I finished it, I read a run-of-the-mill essay about Degas that brought him to life for me more than this book did, even though I can bring to mind many compelling and vibrant drawings in the book. It feels like a mismatch. I would definitely be interested in more work from the artist, though.
April 16, 2024
The drawings in this book are absolutely stunning. They are playful, imaginative and tender. We walk through the Paris of the 1870s, and encounter moments from many impressionist paintings: Manet's picnics, Degas' dancers, Cassatt's children. The drawings are expressive and captivating and often act as fun visual puns. The text is not so good: it's a rushed biography of Degas, told from Cassatt's perspective. Although we get Cassatt's voice, we rarely get a sense of her as a person. But her descriptions of Degas are often full of allusiveness or are too general. It's rare that the art in a graphic novel can make up for a mediocre text, but in this case it does: the drawing is just so charming that I forgive the book all its faults!
January 29, 2025
Ännu en i den nya trenden av seriebiografier av konstnärer. De släpps på löpande band och jag gillar initiativet. Generellt ett spännande sätt att lyfta konstnärens verk. Och denna lyckas bli spännande trotts den ganska ointressanta inledningen. Men man makas in i berättelsen och Degas personlighet är historien. Man får veta mer om Cassatt men hade gärna läst mer om henne. Nu spelar hon rollen som musa med integritet.
Det som gör denna serie magisk är hur den är tecknad. Tecknaren EFA (Ricard Fernandez) har lyckats bevara stilen från exempelvis verket ”Dancers in green and yellow”. Alltså wow. Det känns som att han älskar Degas konst. Boken har fått mig att vilja se mer av Degas.
Det som gör denna serie magisk är hur den är tecknad. Tecknaren EFA (Ricard Fernandez) har lyckats bevara stilen från exempelvis verket ”Dancers in green and yellow”. Alltså wow. Det känns som att han älskar Degas konst. Boken har fått mig att vilja se mer av Degas.
May 20, 2024
2.5 stars
The art in this novel is easily the best element. It's refreshing to read a graphic novel with an art style so accurately referring to an artistic time period of the past (impressionism). Loved the textures, blend of colors, and movement within the images. The text fell flat for me - so many references to other artists that I truthfully couldn't follow, a slow pace, and a really, really unlikeable main character (sorry, Degas). I wish I could say the art redeemed the story more for me, but upon finishing the book I felt more frustrated than enlightened.
The art in this novel is easily the best element. It's refreshing to read a graphic novel with an art style so accurately referring to an artistic time period of the past (impressionism). Loved the textures, blend of colors, and movement within the images. The text fell flat for me - so many references to other artists that I truthfully couldn't follow, a slow pace, and a really, really unlikeable main character (sorry, Degas). I wish I could say the art redeemed the story more for me, but upon finishing the book I felt more frustrated than enlightened.
February 18, 2024
The visuals are much better than the tedious, droning words. You'll certainly get that Degas was surly and hard to be around, if you're like me to the point of wanting this to be over. The art is delightful though. I love how it tries to emulate Degas. If only the story was more than just more and more of the same thing. I was actually much more invested in Cassatt's story and will probably seek out more of it.
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