Degas, (Hilaire Germain) Edgar

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Degas, (Hilaire Germain) Edgar (1834–1917) French painter and sculptor. Classically trained and an admirer of Ingres, Degas combined the discipline of classic art with the immediacy of the modern. After meeting Édouard Manet, he took part in exhibitions of impressionism and shared an interest in scenes of everyday life, especially ballet and horse-racing. A brilliant draughtsman, he found inspiration in Japanese prints and photography. He made sculptures of dancers and horses to master the expression of movement. His subtle use of colour and light became concentrated in his later pastels.

http://www.metmuseum.org; http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk

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