Degas: The Uncontested Master

by Jane Kinsman, Michael Pantazzi

Born in Paris in 1834, Edgar Degas 's art was considered radical in his adoption of modern subject matter and he became a key figure in the evolution of modern art. The Uncontested Master covers his work from the 1870s until his death in 1917. It illustrates his painting, sculpture, printing, pastels, monotypes, and photography, and the artist's favorite the ballet, the opera, the racetrack, women in bordellos and bathing, milliners and laundresses. Essays discuss Degas 's role in organizing the first Impressionist exhibitions, and present a detailed biography with facts never before published.

288 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2009

Reviews

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book covers Degas’ artistic projects from the late 1870s through to his death in 1917, and covers many of the techniques he employed to convey his impressions of the world, including his well-known oil paintings and pastels, through sketches, portraits, monotypes, sculpture, prints and photography. Many of his preferred subjects are exemplified in this all-inclusive catalogue, including ballet, opera, horses and jockeys, prostitutes, milliners, laundresses and women bathing. The book is in fact a catalogue of the 120 masterpieces displayed at the Australian National Gallery exhibition of the same name in late 2008. The contributing authors were either closely associated with this Degas exhibition (Kinsman, Maxwell, Gott) or are recognised Degas scholars (Pantazzi, Henshaw), and their essays combine to produce a revealing portrait of Degas as a radical experimental, thoughtful, and influential artist of his time. It was an amazing exhibition, and this book is a fitting tribute. The reproductions are some of the finest I've encountered. An excellent catalogue and history, if you love Degas.