Artist: Edgar Degas

This artwork is called Conclusion of an arabesque and it was finished in 1877. I picked this artwork because I think it’s a good example of his work. In this piece he used oil and pastels. I noticed when looking closer at this picture that the lines that make up the bottom of the ballerina’s tutu was not strokes they look more like scratch marks. I also liked how he blurred out the background and made the main focus of the picture just the ballerina doing her arabesque on stage and her bouquet of flowers- most likely a prop.

*All the background information is from the book Degas- the painted gesture by: Jacquelyn Laumaye

Hilaire-Germain-Edgar de Gas or Edgar Degas as short was born on July 19, 1834, in Paris, France. His father, Auguste, was a banker, and his mother, Celestine, an American from New Orleans. His mother died in 1847, when Edgar was only 13. His father wanting him to one day take over the family’s legacy and wanted Edgar to become a banker like him. So Edgar was sent off to law school where he was supposed to learn how to become a banker, but instead he was more fascinated by art. Edgar Degas had many people who inspired him along the way like Louis Lamothe from the school of fine arts. Soon after his father found out and let his son follow what he wanted to do and that was art. He also got inspiration from Valpincon who was a trader that Edgar met from his father.

“But make lines. Many lines both from memory and nature.” (p.40)

This quote was given to Edgar by Ingres. Who was another person who inspired Edgar.

Edgar also signed his artworks with just his last name Degas and the invention of the camera helped him too. He took pictures of things he saw interesting then used the photographs as an example for his work. He also liked to use colors that would blend together to create a smooth feeling to the piece and he used different types of ways to make his art like pastel, sculpting with clay, and oils. His father died in 1874, when Edgar was 40. His best friend died in 1912 and soon after Edgar Degas died on September, 27, 1917, when he was 83.