Edgar Degas (1834-1917)
Edgar Degas earned a world wide reputation and today he is
one of the significant painter and sculptors of 19 th century.
His
personality was a great puzzle for future generations. He was reserved
and liked to stay in the background. This privacy which did not allow
insight in his privat life has increased the phantasy of the future
generation. Therefore, there is a large interest in this artist.
Degas
never married. Up to his death he lived as a bachelor. He was a good
friend to Alice d'Anethan, the sister of the Belgium ambassador to
Paris, she was also a painter.
There have been
reports that he loved a dancing lady. This liason might have been the
inspiration for his wonderful pictures and bronzes of dancing ladies.
The 14 year old Belgium dancing lady, Marie van Goethem, was a model
for many unique bronzes. This girl had a body which Degas much admired.
Many sketches and drawings were models for his gypsum figures, which
were not made public at that time.
With
the wax figure of the dancing lady, Marie van Goethem, "Tjutu of
Tarlatan", seen in the exhibition of impressionists in Paris, Degas
evoked much discussion. “With one stroke, Degas has revolutioned the
art of sculpture", wrote the critic, Huysmanns.
Attention
is drawn to the fluid movements. All dancers are shown in the nude.
Therefore Degas could concentrate on the body structure. As it was his
nature to always lay the most difficult way, he chose the most extreme
movements. His dancers look like dreamfigures and sometimes stake the
form snake people. The gypsum figurines were made around 1880 and only
after the death of Degas was it possible to make copies.
Through
his love of ballet, Degas entered a charming world, which he expressed
in pictures and sculptures. He blended music, movement and mimicry into
charming scenes. A well-done example of this is the bronze "Fourth
Position". It is a wonderful composition of dance, which erudes all
that, Degas wanted to express.
Art
& sculpture gave the order to manufacture 300 castings of the
original bronze, "Fourth Position", for museums, collectors and
admirers. The bronzes have been cast at the well-known 'Worpsweder
Kunstgießerei Rieke".
The talent casting at
the foundry vouches for its highest quality. Every figure is a unique
piece, absolutely equivalent to original in size, patina and charisma.
Enjoy this wonderful bronze of Edgar Degas.
