Impressionism in the 19th century suitable for Leaving cert Art.

1. Impressionism
19 century
Degas
(1834 - 1917)

2. Degas
 Born paris (1834)
 Great Aristocratic family of
bankers, rich and refined
 Snob and difficult personality,
quarreling with other members of
the Impressionist group

3. Education & Influences
1855, Art college
Copied old masters
(1856-59)Italy for
three years, studying
artists
1861,Copyist in the
louvre
The Artist “Ingres”
Photography
(snapshot)
Japanese prints

4. Influences (Ingres)
 (1780- 1867)
 French neoclassical
painter
 Mostly portraits
 Expressive distortions
of form and space
make him important
for modern art
Napolean I on his Imperial throne
(1806)

5. Influences (Photography)
 Technical innovations
were of great interest
to him,particularly
photography
 Degas paintings had
the same qualities as a
snapshot

6. Influences (Japanese prints)
Japanese prints
became very popular
in france at this time
Most impressionists
were influenced by
them
Their asymmetrical
compositions
influenced Degas
work

7. Similarities with Ingres
Ingres Degas

8. Similarities with photography
Degas
Horse and carriage photo

9. Simalarities with Japanese Prints
Japanese print
“Absinthe” by Degas

10. How much work did he do?
Absolutly loads!  Over degas lifetime he
produced over 2000
pieces of work.
 1500 drawings, prints,
pastels and oil
paintings were based
on the theme of Ballet

11. But! Was he a real Impressionist?
No! not really
Why?

12. Degas the Impressionist?
 He agreed with some of their “rules”, but combined them
with some of his own!
 He was first and foremost a draughtsman, whereas the
impressionists drew very little.
 He disliked the formless nature of Impressionists work.
His pictures included figures and objects that are clearly
defined.
 He wasn’t interested in “plein air”, preferring the indoors
with its artificial light (Theatre and Ballet)
 “Daylight is too easy, what I want is difficult- the
atmosphere of lamps or moonlight!”- Degas.

13. However!
 He got involved with the impressionists in1860.
 He showed in all their exhibitions. (except 1882)
 He was one of the most vigorous organisers of the
impressionist shows during the 1870’s.
 Like other Impressionists he was influenced by
Japanese prints.

14. Degas’s Themes
Ballet dancers
“Dance class at the Opera”(1872) “Dancers” (1878)

15. Ballet
“The Star” (1878) “Dance Examination” (1880)

16. Ballet
“Two Dancers”(1890)
“Little Dancer of fourteen years”
(1880; cast 1920)
16 inches.

17. Female nude bathing
“The Tub” (1886)
“Woman bathing in a shallow tub”
(1886)

18. Women bathing
“Woman after bath”

19. Horses
“Race horses”

20. Horses

21. Women ironing!

22. Circus theme
“Miss Lala at The Cirque Fernando”, 1879

23. Degas themes/ subject matter
1. Ballet dancers
2. The female nude bathing
3. Horses
4. Women ironing
5. Circus
6. General people sitting in bars etc.

24. Technique/ Style
How did he do it?
What did his work look like?
What made it different from someone elses?
Similar to how you have a style of
handwriting, artists have a style of painting
or drawing that distinguishes them from
others!

25. Degas style and technique
 Unexpected layout/
composition
(snapshots)
 Influenced by
Japanese prints and
photography

26. Style and technique
Chalk pastels and oil paint

27. Style and technique
Degas loved using line to
create form

28. Style and technique
Degas used light and
colour showing
movement.
He used pure colour
mixed with white (as
light)
Degas used light to
emphasis other actions
in the drama of colour

29. Style and technique
Degas made realistic
observations of the
world.

30. Examples of Degas work
1. The Dance Class (1874)
2. Dancers preparing for an Audition (1880)
3. The Tub (1886)

31. The Dancing Class (1874)
 Oil on canvas
 Dance master, Jules
Perrot,was a renowned
dancer and teacher.
 Degas did lots of
studies of him and his
dance class
 Dancers in every kind
of pose!

32. The Dance Class (detail)
The dance master
stands in characteristic
pose,standing legs
apart,with a long stick
in his outreached hand
directing young
dancers.

33. The dance class (colour detail)
Red flower
Red fan
Yellow ribbon
Green ribbon
Green wall
White dresses
Blue ribbon

34. The dance class (composition)
Cropped like a photograph
Asymmetrical composition, japanece influence
perspective
(boards on floor)
Background
Foreground
Midground
Focal point

35. The dance class (theme)
 Ballet
 Behind the scenes
 Realistic observation
of ballet dancers

36. The dance class(light /shadow)
Natural light created
by use of white on
dancers dresses
Light source from
right hand side,
illuminating teachers
back
Light source from
centre/ top of painting

37. Dancers preparing for an
Audition (1880)
Chalk pastel on paper
As the title says, two
dancers waiting to
have an audition,
watched by two other
ladies- perhaps
mothers

38. Theme
Ballet dancers

39. Technique
Chalk pastels

40. Technique –chalk pastels
Using a few pastel strokes,
degas draws the ballet
dress in a very light and
delicate manner
We can see the direction
of line that he drew with
his pastel (line to create
form was typical of his
style!)

41. Technique –chalk pastels
In this area you can
see where Degas has
smudged the pastel,
maybe with his finger
for the background
beige colour
This is in complete
contrast to the detailed
linear work of the
faces
detail

42. Technique – Colour /Light
Degas uses very subtle
colours and tones to
create form (3d), this
can be seen very well
on the bodies skin
The use of white on
the ballet dresses
creates a great sense of
light in the overall
painting

43. Technique - light
Degas demonstrates
both his excellent
drawing skills and
ability to show light
and shade on all the
womens body,
particularly the collar
bone

44. Composition
Background
Midground
Foreground
Degas composition is
clearly influenced by:
1. Japanese prints
2. Photography
 The composition has
asymmetrical qualities,
and has the appearance
of a snapshot.

45. Composition
3 heads are tightly
placed together in far
top right hand corner

46. Composition
However, this is
balanced out by the
outward stretch of the
girls leg- creating a
balance!

47. The Tub (1886)
Chalk pastel on paper
A view of a woman
preparing to bathe,
however she appears
not to know she is
being viewed!

48. Theme
Degas loved unusual
poses and compositions –
to achieve that, his work
appears to be viewed
through a keyhole or fly
on the wall. It is this
unusual composition, pose
and study of a woman that
comes across as his theme
in this piece of work.

49. Composition
Background
Midground
Foreground
Degas composition is
clearly influenced by:
1. Japanese prints
2. Photography
 The composition has
asymmetrical qualities,
and has the appearance of
a snapshot.

50. Composition
A lot of this composition
is taken up with the
womans body with great
emphasis on her back
The arrangement is made
up of some obvious curves
and vertical lines
Back and tub = curves
Table and arm = vertical
lines
Placed together, this
creates an unusual
composition

51. Technique
Degas used chalk
pastels
He used the cross -
hatching technique.
Through this he shows
us how he can create
tone. He makes the
figure look solid
Hand pressed onto the
tub shows great 3d.

52. Technique - light
Degas preferred to use
artificial light, he felt
it was more
challenging
His very detailed
study of light on this
body creates a very
strong form

53. Lifetime 1834-1917
In later years Degas developed a condition in his
eyes that made work very difficult for him
He worked in a dimly lit studio – making the
problem worse
He became a recluse and died lonely at 83.
Degas has remained one of the most respected,
admired and loved painters of a period which saw
the beginning of the whole modern movement.