In this gallery, we showcase 30 paintings by Edgar Degas (1834-1917) the French impressionist painter whose innovations contributed to a new definition of modern art. Here we can see some of his favourite themes such as double-portraits, horse races, dancers, and bathers. Techniques which run through Degas' career include unusual viewpoints and framing, the effects of artificial lighting, a documentary quality showing life behind the scenes of those who perform in public, and the complex choice of composition of any given scene that often draws a greater involvement from the viewer than might otherwise be expected.
A painting calls for a certain mystery, some vagueness, some fantasy.
Edgar Degas
(Kear, 41)
