Degas Turquoise Pillow
There's so much to say about Edgar Degas. The oldest of five children, his mother was New Orleans Creole, and his father a French banker. Painting since childhood, he turned his room into an artist's studio. At 21, he met Ingres, who became a profound influence on the young painter. Degas produced works that he intended to show at the elite Salon, but most attracted little attention there. Disenchanted with the stuffy, rigid Salon, he joined forces with a small group of young artists who were challenging the Salon's definition of art. Derisively called "Impressionists" by an influential critic, they created a new audience for their new approaches. Degas organized exhibitions of the new group's work, but his disinterest in landscapes, and in painting outdoors, led to much conflict. The group disbanded after 12 years. Today Degas is revered for his masterly depiction of movement, and for his enigmatic portraits.
See how the light bounces and springs off the dancers?