Art Blog #200
13 hours ago
3 min read
Overview of some paintings from my two favourite art galleries in the UK - The Courtauld Gallery and The National Gallery - 'Two dancers on stage' by Edgar Degas The Courtauld Gallery.
Edgar Degas (Quick Bio)
Edgar Degas (born July 19, 1834, Paris, France—died September 27, 1917, Paris) was a French painter, sculptor, and printmaker who played a key role in the Impressionist movement and was highly acclaimed for his depictions of Parisian life.
Degas primarily focused on the human form—particularly the female figure—which he portrayed in works that ranged from the somber portraits of his early years to the studies of laundresses, cabaret singers, milliners, and prostitutes during his Impressionist phase.
Ballet dancers and women at their toilette were subjects that captivated him throughout his career.
Paul writes:
Edgar Degas was a highly productive and talented painter who explored themes like the female and male nude, portraits, self-portraits, still life, and scenes from horse racing. However, he is most renowned for his paintings of dancers, especially those focused on ballet.
Degas is consistently categorised as an Impressionist, yet he appeared to distance himself from this movement through remarks such as 'no art was ever less spontaneous than mine, what I do is the result of reflection and of the study of the great masters; of inspiration, spontaneity, temperament, I know nothing'
this was in response to Impression being viewed as spontaneous painting, capturing a fleeting moment in time, the light and movement of the moment as a contrast to the more static paintings that preceded it'
Degas is recognized for his sculpture work, including the piece 'Little Dancer Aged Fourteen,' displayed in 1881. This illustrates his particular interest in ballet dancing, capturing the dancers' movement, grace, and poise.
Degas was also a great collector of other impressionist artists and owned works by Monet, Van Gogh, Cezanne and Pissarro.
As you can likely recognize, Degas was a master of capturing movement, whether at the ballet or the races, portraying the motion of people and animals in a distinctive and captivating manner.
Edgar Degas showcases his finest work in the painting of 'the two dancers on stage'.
The colours are vibrant, and the brushstrokes are delicate. He captures the dancers' specific movements and poses, portraying the scene with beauty, elegance, strength, and subtlety.
Additionally, the figures are not positioned centrally in the painting, which might indicate a side view of a stage, hinting that this could be a dress rehearsal.
This piece represents Degas at the height of his artistic skill, experience, and passion for his craft.
I could spend all day admiring Degas' work; his art is insightful, educational, and portrays life in late nineteenth-century Paris as if preserved in a time capsule. Although his subjects are not always conventionally depicted, he masterfully captures everyday life with both charm and skill.
Provenance:
Provenance (derived from the French word provenir, meaning 'to come from/forth') pertains to the history of the ownership, custody, or location of a historical object.
The main goal of tracing an object's or entity's provenance is usually to offer contextual and circumstantial evidence for its original creation or discovery, by determining, as thoroughly as possible, its subsequent history, particularly the sequences of its formal ownership, custody, and storage locations.
I will cover provenance and it's importance further in a separate blog!
Provenance of 'The two dancers on stage' by Edgar Degas - Courtesy of gallerycollections.courtauld.ac.uk/object-p-1932-sc-89
Captain Henry Hill, Brighton, by 1874;
Hill Sale, Christie's, 25 May 1889 (lot 31) purchased Goupil; Victor Desfossés; sold by Desfossés 4 November 1889, to Goupil-Boussod & Valadon successeurs;
Goupil- Boussod & Valadon successeurs, sold 13 November 1899 to Paul Gaillmard, Paris;
Alex Reid, Glasgow; Sir James Murray, Aberdeen, sold Christie’s, 29 April 1927 (lot 41);
M. Knoedler & Co., London; purchased by Samuel Courtauld, June 1927;
Courtauld Gift, 1932
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