Today is the birthday of French Impressionist Edgar Degas (b. 1834 -1917 France). Degas was more than just a painter though, he was a printmaker, colourist, sculptor and excellent draughtsman.
degas was fascinated by the dance
Although he is more known for his favorite subjects, – dancers, horse racing, theatre and nudes which showcase his talent for depicting movement, he actually began as a classical history painter.
degas Little dancer 14 yrs old
Degas had relatives in the States and often stayed there. The Cotton Exchange at New Orleans, is, in my opinion is a wonderful painting in it’s own right.
Degas preferred to known as a realist
Much has been already written about this celebrated artist, including his taciturn nature. He preferred to be known as a Realist than an impressionist. More information HERE and lots of links to his work HERE
Here is a list of links to post I have made so far concerning artist’s birthday. I have tried to make it a rule that I actually LIKE the artists’ work! Some artists I do like, I have not included so far, as their birthdays have clashed with something else I was writing about. Some birthdays I have only found out about when it was too late to include them , I mean to rectify this at a later date.
Echostains Blog 
17 thoughts on “Happy Birthday Dear Degas!”