Spotlight On: Edgar Degas
More prominently known as an Impressionist painter, Degas stands outside the mainstream of public monumental sculpture in the 19th century. He only exhibited one sculpture in his lifetime. ‘The Little Fourteen Year Old Dancer’ was shown in at the 6th Impressionist Exhibition in Paris in 18181. Modelled in wax, wearing a real bodice, tutu, ballet shoes and a horsehair wig. Degas’ use of unconventional materials and un-idealized realism shocked the audiences. Now considered a pioneering work of Modernism, ‘The Little Fourteen Year Old Dancer’ was later withdrawn from the exhibition and never exhibited again in his lifetime.
After his death in in 1917 over 150 small sculptures were found in Degas’ studio. In various states of deterioration the statuettes were modelled in wax, clay and plasticine. Degas was focused on three subject matters: dancers, bathing women and horses. Fascinated with the dynamics of movement and tensions within the body, his compositions were repeated with many subtle variations.In 1818 it was decided that 20 editions of 72 of the sculptures would be cast in bronze. These were celebrated in a Paris exhibition in 1921. While Degas chose not to insert himself into the sculptural tradition in his lifetime, his work has left a significant mark on 19th and 20th century sculpture.
Research thanks to TBSSS teacher @mon.scarrabelotti.artist.
Image credits: top gallery, clockwise from top left: 'The Little Fourteen-Year-Old Dancer', 1922 (cast), 2018 (tutu). ‘Dancer Looking at the Sole of Her Right Foot (Fourth State)’, modeled before ca. 1895–1900, cast 1920. ‘Dressed Dancer at Rest, Hands Behind Her Back, Right Leg Forward (Second State)’, modeled possibly ca. 1895, cast 1920 ‘Woman Seated in Armchair Wiping Her Left Armpit’, modeled probably ca. 1895, cast 1920.
Images beneath text: top: ‘Horse with Head Lowered’, modeled probably ca. 1883–90, cast 1920. Middle: ‘The Tub’, modeled 1888–89, cast 1920. Bottom: ‘First Arabesque Penchée’, modeled probably before 1890, cast 1920.
All photographs courtesy of the MET Museum online collection.