Definition

1. Proper noun:
   • French Impressionist painter (1834-1917): Edgar Degas was a French artist famous for his paintings, sculptures, prints, and drawings. He is especially associated with the subject of dance, particularly ballet dancers, and is often regarded as one of the founders of Impressionism, although he preferred to be called a realist.

Examples of Usage

• Proper noun:
  • The museum is hosting a major exhibition featuring works by Edgar Degas.
  • Edgar Degas is renowned for his masterful depictions of ballerinas in rehearsal and performance.
  • Art historians often study the pastel techniques of Edgar Degas.

Advanced Usage

• "Degas's oeuvre": refers to the complete body of work created by the artist.
  • Degas's oeuvre provides a fascinating insight into Parisian life in the late 19th century.
• "a Degas": used to refer to a single work of art by Edgar Degas.
  • The collector was thrilled to acquire a Degas for her private gallery.

Variants and Related Words

• Degas, Hilaire-Germain-Edgar Degas (full name): The artist's full name.
• Impressionist (noun/adjective): A member of the 19th-century art movement characterized by relatively small, thin, visible brush strokes and an emphasis on the accurate depiction of light; of or relating to this movement. Degas is a key figure in this movement.
• Pastelist (noun): An artist who works with pastels, a medium Degas used extensively in his later career.

Synonyms

• Artist: A person who produces paintings or drawings as a profession or hobby.
• Painter: An artist who paints pictures.
• Impressionist painter: An artist belonging to the Impressionist movement.

Related Phrases

• "Degas's dancers": A common phrase referring to one of the artist's most famous and recurring subjects.
  • The lecture focused on the composition and movement in Degas's dancers.
• "like a Degas scene": A descriptive phrase comparing a real-life scene to the style or subject matter typical of Degas's work.
  • The ballet studio, with its dancers at the barre, looked like a Degas scene come to life.

Related Idioms

(Note: There are no widely recognized idioms specifically about Edgar Degas. He is typically referenced directly by name in discussions of art and culture.)

Noun

1. French impressionist painter (1834-1917)