Edgar Degas (19 July 1834 – 27 September 1917), born
Hilaire-Germain-Edgar Degas (pronounced [ilɛʀ ʒɛʁmɛ̃ ɛdɡɑʀ dœˈɡɑ]), was a
French artist famous for his work in painting, sculpture, printmaking
and drawing. He is regarded as one of the founders of Impressionism
although he rejected the term, and preferred to be called a realist. A
superb draughtsman, he is especially identified with the subject of the
dance, and over half his works depict dancers. These display his mastery
in the depiction of movement, as do his racecourse subjects and female
nudes. His portraits are considered to be among the finest in the
history of art.
Early in his career, his ambition was to be a history painter, a calling
for which he was well prepared by his rigorous academic training and
close study of classic art. In his early thirties he changed course, and
by bringing the traditional methods of a history painter to bear on
contemporary subject matter, he became a classical painter of modern
life.