Edgar Degas

Self Portrait, aged 21 (1855) by Edgar Degas, in the Musée d'Orsay, Paris (Photo courtesy of the Musée d
Self Portrait, aged 21 (1855) by Edgar Degas, in the Musée d'Orsay, Paris
Self Portrait, aged 21 (1855) by Edgar Degas, in the Musée d'Orsay, Paris, Edgar Degas, General (Photo courtesy of the Musée d
Photograph of the young Edgar Degas, Edgar Degas, General (Photo by unknown)
Self Portrait photograph (1895) by Edgar Degas, in the Harvard Art Museum, Edgar Degas, General (Photo courtesy of the Harvard Art Museum)
The ballet class (1971–74) by Edgar Degas, in the Musée d'Orsay Paris, Edgar Degas, General (Photo courtesy of the Musée d
In a Café, or l'Absinthe (1873) by Edgar Degas, in the Musée d'Orsay, Paris, Edgar Degas, General (Photo courtesy of the Musée d
The Bellelli Family (1858–67) by Edgar Degas, in the Musée d'Orsay, Paris, Edgar Degas, General (Photo courtesy of the Musée d
The Tub (1886) by Edgar Degas, in the Musée d'Orsay, Paris, Edgar Degas, General (Photo courtesy of the Musée d
The Little Dancer at Age 14 in tinted bronze (1881)—with some ballet paintings in the background—all by Edgar Degas, in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, Edgar Degas, General (Photo courtesy of the Metropolitan Museum of Art)

French Impressionist master of ballet dancers—whether painted, pastel, or cast in bronze

Edgar Degas (1834-1917) was born Hilaire-Germain-Edgar De Gas to a Parisian banker and his New Orleans–born Creole wife.

Degas became an accomplished painter, sculptor, and draughtsman—his pastels are particularly memorable—famed for the way he captured the exquisite movement of ballerinas on the stage as well as the intimate moments of someone washing up.

Selected works by Edgar Degas in England


Two Dancers on the Stage (1874) by Edgar Degas in the Courtauld Gallery, London

After the Bath, Woman Drying Herself (1896/98) by Edgar Degas (1834–1917) in the National Gallery, London

Miss La La at the Cirque Fernando (1879) by Edgar Degas in the National Gallery, London

Where to find works by Edgar Degas in England