Edgar Degas Paintings that Move

Edgar Degas He was born in July 1834 in Paris, France (that was 180 years ago!) He is one of the most famous painters ever. He is known as an Impressionist artist. That means he liked to try to catch different kinds of light in his paintings. Self Portrait by Degas, 1855

Edgar Degas A Cotton Office in New Orleans, 1873 Raise your hand if you know what repetition is?

Edgar Degas A Cotton Office in New Orleans, 1873 Repetition is when a shape or color is repeated over and over. Repetition also happens in music and sound too. Do you see a shape or color that is repeated?

Edgar Degas A Cotton Office in New Orleans, 1873 What is all the white stuff on the table? What do you think they did with it and why?

Edgar Degas A Cotton Office in New Orleans, 1873 The cotton was how people made money in the 1800’s. The first cotton gin (engine) was already invented and made it easier for cotton to be sold for cloth. This is actually the first painting Degas sold and gave him the reputation of a serious artist! Artists record history with their artwork.

Edgar Degas-Ballet Ballet Rehearsal by Edgar Degas, 1873, The Fogg Art Museum, Massachusetts Notice how Degas invites you into the painting by having the musician in the foreground (front). We can only see part of him. Then he repeats his dancers in similar dynamic poses.

Edgar Degas-Ballet Ballet Rehearsal by Edgar Degas, 1873, The Fogg Art Museum, Massachusetts Dynamic means interesting, not straight and boring. Can you stand up and stretch your arms and legs into an interesting dynamic pose? Think of a snap shot of a karate class, soccer game, or cheerleading practice.

Stage Rehearsal by Edgar Degas, , The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City What is in the foreground (front) here? Are shapes and colors repeated again? The repetition gives us a sense of movement. Edgar Degas-Ballet

Stage Rehearsal by Edgar Degas, , The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City Did you notice in each picture we’ve seen there are windows repeated? The Impressionist artists loved to paint in natural lighting to see how colors changed when light changed.

Edgar Degas-Horses Before the Stands by Edgar Degas, 1872, Musee D’ Orsay, Paris Another subject Degas liked to paint was horses. See the overlapping going back into the background? This is what we are going to be doing with our artwork next.

Edgar Degas-Our Picture Please come over in a circle around me as I demonstrate how to trace a dynamic shape beginning in the Front or Foreground with the shape part on the page. I have to hold the tracer carefully in place as I use my pencil. I’m being gentle with the tracer since other kids need to use these.

Edgar Degas-Our Picture Next I move the tracer back a little but so it is still touching the 1st shape. Now this time tracing I have to hop around the first shape- NOT DRAW through it. That is how we show overlapping like Degas. (see picture) Next I can flip my shape, move it back a little but so it is still touching the 2nd and trace again.

Edgar Degas-Our Picture I’m going to keep tracing, moving my shape back into the background and even have it go off the page so we only see part of it. Then I will make sure I print my name in the front edge. Now lets get into a line and choose 1 color paper and a shape for our own artwork.

Edgar Degas-Color and Details Now that I have my shapes traced and my name on paper, I get to use color pencils to draw in detail of my shapes. Where is your scene? I’m going to first draw a little horizontal line under all the feet or tires of my shapes. Then at the back of my picture under my shape in very back, I will draw the horizon line. That is the line the separates the floor from the wall or the grass from the sky. (see picture) Then I will roll up my sleeves and use oil pastels. They are like an oily, soft crayon so I barely have to press to make bright colors. And it looks really neat to blend two color together. I can even wrap my finger tightly in paper towel and blend to make soft colors like Degas. Just stay in the shape. (see picture)

Edgar Degas-Wrap up How many years ago did Degas live? What is it called when one shape is in front of another an we only see part of it? What were the Impressionists trying to catch in their paintings? What is the Foreground?

Edgar Degas-Wrap up Answers How many years ago did Degas live?180 years ago What is it called when one shape is in front of another an we only see part of it? Overlapping What were the Impressionists trying to catch in their paintings? Changes in color with light What is the foreground? Foreground is the front of picture