Artist Profile

Hilaire-Germain-Edgar Degas was born July 19, 1834. He lived with his parents and four younger siblings in Paris. His father's name was Augustin de Gas. He was a banker. His mother was Celestine Musson de Gas. Degas recieved a baccalaureat in literature from Lycee. He later went to law school to please his parents. However, he was not enthusiastic about it and did not try. Therefore, he did not complete his law degree. Later, he went to Ecole des Beaux to study art.He was a timid and proud man. He was attracted to women, but he never married.

During his life time,  the Franco-Prussian War, The Drefus Affair, the Civil War, the 1889 World Expo in Paris, the sinking of the Titanic, and the Gilded Age all occurred. In his personal life, he had to bail his brother out of bankruptcy with his inheritance. This made him rely on his artwork for an income. He also suffered from failing eyesight. He was closely associated with the Impressionist movement, though he abhorred the title. He preferred paint and pastels. On a visit to New Orleans, his mother's hometown, he painted one of his most famous works, "The Cotton Exhanges at New Orleans."

Degas painted with a wide range of subjects, including ballerinas, orchestras, classical subjects, and women in various stages of dress. Some of his most famous works are:
The Bellelli Family

Woman with Chrysanthemums

Chanteuse de Cafe

My personal favorites are "The Cotton Exchanges at New Orleans" and "The Dance Class."

Edgar Degas