Highily influential portrait artist--Edgar Degas

My Favorite Artist, Edgar Degas

Edgar Degas is considered a highly influential portrait artist for several reasons.

Firstly, his innovative use of composition was revolutionary. Degas often used unusual angles and cropping in his portraits. For example, in his paintings of ballet dancers, he might cut off a part of the figure or show the subject from an unexpected side view. This made his portraits feel more dynamic and immediate, as if the viewer was catching a candid moment.

Secondly, his mastery of pastels was remarkable. He used pastels to create a soft, luminous quality in his portraits. The colors he chose and the way he blended them added a sense of depth and atmosphere. His pastel works, such as "Portrait of Mary Cassatt", had a unique textural quality that set his portraits apart from others who mainly worked in oils.

Finally, Degas had a great ability to capture the essence of his subjects. He was not just interested in physical likeness but in portraying the personality, mood, and the inner life of the people he painted. His portraits of dancers, for instance, conveyed their grace, energy, and the intensity of their work and passion.
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