Degas on AllMovie

This video, narrated by David Thompson, chronicles the life and works of French Impressionistic painter Edgar Degas. Born in Paris in 1834, Degas was an organizer of the first impressionist exhibition in 1874 that shocked the art world. However, unlike the freer work of many of his contemporaries in the movement, such as Monet and Renoir, the art of Degas was made of controlled, carefully drawn compositions, which reflected his neo-classical art training. He shared the Impressionists' interest in the subjects of the movement, such as ordinary people and nature. Some of his best-known works, including depictions of ballerinas and Parisian night life, are displayed in the video.