The Life and Works of Degas

by Douglas Mannering

Although Degas is regarded as one of the founders of Impressionism, & shared a fondness for scenes from modern life, he did not share their enthisasm for light & color, preferring to concentrate on composition, drawing & form. His techniques were highly original, owing something to the current vogue for Japanese prints, giving a 'snapshot' effect, with figures ofen cropped off at the top or sides. This splendid book shows many of Degas' most famous works At the Races, in front of the Stand, is typical - seemingly casual, yet worked out to the last detail; the Dance Class, showing how he loved informal poses & an unusual viewwwpoint, & his matter-of-fact nudes, such as The Tub.

Genres: Art

79 pages, Library Binding

First published April 1, 1997

Reviews

[Betty Strohecker · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was another very interesting book in what is evidently a large collection highlighting many famous artists. The four books I have read came together when I purchased them, but a search shows many more available by different authors. Numerous facts gave a very good glimpse into Degas's life and motivations. His relationships with other artists of the time were included as well as social influences of the period. Great book.

[Ankur · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had bought the book mainly to look at the plates, but the narration provides a fair glimpse into the life of the artist. In 'The Moon and six pence', Strickland loses his eyesight towards the end of his life. Since Strickland is modeled after Gauguin and we know that he didn't have a problem with his eyesight, I wonder whether Somerset Maugham had Degas in mind regarding this plot element in his book.

[Ann Keller · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a wonderful snapshot of the life and art of Edgar Degas, a painter who lived in the heart of the Victorian era. Degas is probably best known for his variations on two themes, ballet and nudes. The master meticulously recreated his subjects in various venues, perfecting his craft with each rendering.

Interestingly enough, Degas composed his portraits with the central subjects a little off center and visually sliced straight through key elements of each picture, too. Rather than gathering and placing his subjects in each painting for maximum effect, Edgar Degas had no difficulty painting only a portion of a figure at the edge of the frame, very much like our modern photographs. In this, he was indeed a painter ahead of his time. This book beautifully captures the essential focus of his style, as well as the heart and soul of the man himself.

[Linette · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book provides a succinct introduction to the artist's life. I enjoyed the selections of his work and the summaries describing each one.

This book also included the pastel "Four Ballerinas Behind the Scenes" (also sometimes called "Dancers in Blue"), which is my favorite.