Spending hours watching ballerinas, laundresses, servants, and cafe patrons, Edgar Degas searched for the pulse of life. And then, using his innovative mind and the persistence of a perfectionist, he looked for ways to convey impressions. This was impressionism in the full sense, although the artist himself largely disagreed with those who in one way or another considered themselves to be part of this movement. A whirlwind of whirling, transparent textures, dynamics and fleetingness - Degas had to seriously try to captivate the viewer with seeming lightness.

"Blue Dancers" (1897, Pushkin State Museum of Fine Arts):

Four ballerinas spin in a dance. We don't know what kind of party this is. We also don’t know whether they are on stage or in a classroom doing exercises. There is a version that Degas depicted one model from different angles, trying to convey the image of a spinning dancer.

“Ballerinas have always been for me just an excuse to depict wonderful fabrics and capture movement,” Degas admitted when he was once again called a fan of dancers. Their weightless translucent figures appear in the paintings either in the twilight of dance classes, or in the spotlight on the stage, or in short moments of rest.

"Two Resting Dancers" (1905 - 1910, Orsay Museum, Paris):

The figures in the picture are large. The reason is quite prosaic: the artist was losing his sight and was forced to work with larger-scale images. Pastel, which Degas used, was his favorite material in his late period. The freshness of the tones, the vibration of the stroke, the velvety texture attracted the master.

To give the paints a special “sound,” Degas came up with the idea of ​​treating the paintings with steam—the pastel softened and could be shaded. And to make the pastel “glow,” the artist dissolved it with hot water and applied it to the canvas like oil paint.

Each work by Degas, despite its apparent airiness, is the result of long-term observations and painstaking work. Impromptu was categorically incompatible with the artist’s perfectionism. His powers of observation and phenomenal visual memory allowed him to capture with amazing accuracy the nuances that create a feeling of the instantaneous and random.

By the end of the session, Degas's models were always not only mortally tired from long posing. They were also marked with stripes, which helped the artist check the proportions.

Edgar Degas was the eldest son in an aristocratic family. To hide his noble origins, he changed his surname de Gas to a simpler one - Degas.

Self-portrait (1854 - 1855, Orsay Museum, Paris):

Not needing money, the aspiring artist preferred to write for the sake of art and spend endless hours on revision. There was even a joke that there was only one way to force Degas to finish the painting - by taking the painting away from him. In terms of perfectionism, Edgar was a maniac. During his studies, he copied the works of old masters in the Louvre so carefully that the original was difficult to distinguish from the studio.

Degas was friends with the Impressionists. He did not share many of their principles, but agreed with them on one fundamental to the style: subjects were taken from everyday life. Degas preferred the theater, opera and cafes to open air. In the artificial lighting of establishments, Degas spent hours watching people move.

After the death of his father in the 1870s, the family had money problems. For the first time, Degas began to sell his paintings and participate in exhibitions. But once he established a client base, the artist refused to exhibit his works, preferring to sell them through several sales agents.

For the last 10 years, Degas wrote almost nothing. He lived alone in his bachelor apartment, surrounded by canvases, antiques and carpets.

Masterpiece: Blue dancers (Danseuses bleues)

Created date: circa 1897

Material: Paper, pastel

Dimensions: 64x65 cm

Museum: The Pushkin Museum named after A.S. Pushkin. Building of the Gallery of Art of Europe and America XIX – XX (Moscow, Volkhonka, 14)

1 – history of the painting

“Blue Dancers” by Degas were almost always found on the territory of Russia after writing, thanks to the Moscow merchant and collector Sergei Shchukin. He managed to collect the best examples of contemporary French art; there is no such collection even in France. Sergei Shchukin confessed to his daughter:

“If you experience a psychological shock when you see a painting, buy it.”

Monet’s room with Degas’s “Blue Dancers” in the Moscow mansion of Sergei Shchukin. Beginning of the 20th century. Reconstruction by Christina Delocq-Fourcauld

After writing “The Blue Dancers,” Degas deposited it in the collection of the Impressionist art dealer Durand-Ruel in Paris. Shchukin purchased the painting from the latter for his collection. The painting hung permanently in the collector's Moscow mansion on Bolshoi Znamensky Lane until 1918, when the collection was transformed into the State Museum of New Western Art, which existed until 1948. After the museum closed, the Shchukin collection was divided between the Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts in Moscow and the Hermitage.

This is what the impressionist hall looked like in the Shchukin mansion. Reconstruction by Christina Delocq-Fourcauld

All works by Edgar Degas in the Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts (Moscow) come from the Shchukin collection.

The famous artist Maurice Denis, who visited Moscow in 1909, saw Degas’s “Blue Dancers” in Shchukin’s home gallery and spoke about it this way: “In the large salon there is a blue Degas, the most beautiful, the most sonorous and the newest.”

2 – stories about money

The artist came from a wealthy family. The artist's father, Auguste de Gas, managed the French branch of a large bank founded in Italy by Edgar Degas' grandfather, René Hilaire de Gas. Hilaire de Gas emigrated to Italy during the French Revolution, believing that his life was in danger. Edgar's mother, Celestine Musson, was from a French family that settled in America. Her father was a broker at the New Orleans Cotton Exchange.

We are accustomed to the fact that the artist is constantly poor and barefoot, but not in the case of Degas. Surprisingly, the talent of the impressionist Degas was appreciated during his lifetime. His works sold well.

“Blue Dancers” were purchased for fabulous money - 60,000 francs! Shchukin hardly bargained with the Marchands (as art dealers were called in those days) for paintings by Degas. For comparison, the average salary at the plant for an ordinary worker was 108 francs per month.

Edgar Degas “Four Dancers” 1899. National Gallery of Art (Washington, USA)

Despite the extravagance, Sergei Shchukin in other cases liked to say: “ A good painting is a cheap painting».

What about the artist: money did not bring Degas much happiness. He had no family. He was a hermit. He rarely left his workshop. There was an intricate latch on the door of his apartment. Degas could control it from his workshop on the second floor. If the guest was not at court, the latch on the door never rose. She didn't get up very often.

Edgar Degas “Blue Dancers” Circa 1897. Pushkin State Museum of Fine Arts (Moscow)

Story 3 – about ballet

In the history of painting, the name of Degas is forever associated with the ballet theme. He became the first who was fascinated not by a specific prima, but by ballet as an art and work, Degas not only saw, but also showed the ballet from the other side.

The four ballerinas in the painting “Blue Dancers” are an inextricable whole; with their plasticity they convey the idea of ​​harmonious, harmonious and developing movement. It is difficult to even say whether the painting depicts four ballerinas. This can be the figure of the same dancer, but in different turns.

Edgar Degas “Dancers” Metropolitan Museum of Art (New York, USA)

The motif of conveying complex movement interested Degas throughout his entire work. Often he seemed to unfold it in a time sequence, showing its various stages, as in this group of ballerinas. The artist returned several times to a similar composition, versions of which are in the Louvre and in a private collection in France. However, in terms of expressiveness, purity and harmony, Moscow “Blue Dancers” represents the most successful solution to this theme.

The theatrical world of ballet on his canvases shows unusual corners of the theater, sometimes visible only through an ajar door. Famous painting "Blue Dancers", written from a completely unusual angle, as if the artist, and behind him the viewer, is spying on the ballerinas.

Edgar Degas “Two Resting Dancers” (1905-1910), Orsay Museum (Paris, France)

Story 4 – about Degas’s lost sight

At age 36 (1870), the Franco-Prussian War was approaching Paris. Together with Edouard Manet, Edgar Degas joins the army. He volunteered for an infantry regiment. Soon a visual defect in the right eye was discovered (the beginning of blindness) and Degas was transferred to the artillery, where he ended the war.

The painting “Blue Dancers” belongs to the late period of Degas’s work. He wrote it when he was approximately 63 years old. During these years, his vision weakened so much that he began to paint with large spots of color, giving primary importance to the decorative organization of the surface of the picture, which is clearly visible in the picture.

Edgar Degas “Ballerinas” British National Gallery

5 stories - about personal life

There is no evidence of Degas’ desire for physical intimacy with ballet dancers or any of his models, nor any other information about the artist’s personal life. Nobody knew if Degas had a mistress. Degas himself never talked about his relationships with women.

In his personal life, Degas was both reserved and hot-tempered; he had fits of anger. Friends and family members described Degas as a clumsy, straightforward man. Indeed, he was sometimes affectionately called “little bear” for his frequent grumbling and grumbling. Degas's attitude towards his own body was free from conventions. In fact, the bathtub, which we often see in his many late paintings of women washing themselves, was boldly placed by him in the middle of the studio.

By the end of the 80s, Degas had essentially realized his desire to “become famous and unknown.” He was practical and knew how to use his influence, was in constant contact with many artists, and such activity began to irritate some of his colleagues. As further proof that he is confident in his talent and calm about his position, Degas isolates himself in a narrow circle of close friends. He is exhibited in only a few select public places, which attracts interest from respectable art magazines in Paris. Degas's productivity increases, the number of completed works intended for sale increases, while at the same time he carefully plans his auction strategy with a group of reliable traders.

Edgar Degas “Dance Class” Orsay Museum (Paris, France)

Story 6 – about Degas and the Impressionists

Degas had little interest in the landscape, which occupied a central place in the work of the Impressionists, and he did not strive to capture on canvas the elusive play of light and shadow that so fascinated Monet. Degas grew out of traditional painting, which meant so little to the other impressionists. Degas can be attributed to impressionism only thanks to the trembling, luminous play of colors. What was common, both for Degas and for the rest of the impressionists, was, perhaps, only a greedy interest in the picturesque subjects of modern life and the desire to capture it on canvas in some new, unusual way.

The irony of fate is that it was in the 1890s, after the collapse of the impressionist group, that Degas’s works became closest in style to impressionism. However, the blurred shapes and bright colors that he began to use during these years were more a consequence of the progressive loss of vision than the artist’s desire for the colors and shapes characteristic of impressionism.

Edgar Degas “Dancers in Pink and Green” 1894. Private collection

Degas never had any students, but many artists, for example, Paul Gauguin, Georges Seurat, Henri Toulouse-Lautrec, recognized his influence on their art.

Story 7 – quotes from Degas about painting and ballet

“Painting requires a little mystery, some uncertainty, some imagination. When you give a very clear meaning, people get bored.”

“Nothing in art should seem random, not a single gesture.”

“They call me a painter of dancers. Ballerinas have always been just an excuse for me to depict wonderful fabrics and capture movement.”

Edgar Degas “Pink Dancers”

• Degas was born into the family of a wealthy banker who was fond of art.
• In 1853, Degas began to study law at the request of his father, and at the same time, at his own request, he took painting lessons in Barrias’s studio. Since 1855, he regularly visited the School of Fine Arts, where he worked in the workshop of Lamotte, a student of Ingres.
• His family name is an aristocratic one, De Gas, but he changed it to a more “folk” one - Degas
• Degas was a perfectionist. Friends joked that he would stop working on the painting only if it was taken away by force.
• He is called the “painter of dancers,” and for good reason. He painted more than one and a half thousand canvases, which in one way or another depicted dancers, and first of all, ballerinas
• The artist was a recognized master of pastel. He not only perfected existing methods of working with it, but also created new ones, for example, processing paintings with steam and diluting pastels

Edgar Degas “The Dancer Arches” 1883

9 story-anecdote from the life of Degas (or how Degas rented a workshop)

Young Edgar Degas, wandering around the corners of Paris, decided to rent a workshop. After a long search, he finally found a suitable room in a poor area, but the owner of the apartment immediately set a number of conditions:
- I can rent this room to you, but I warn you: it must be quiet here,
“I’m a calm person, monsieur,” Degas answered modestly.
“No guests, no shouting,” the owner continued.
“I promise,” said the artist.
“Don’t come home late because the floor creaks,” the owner added.
“Okay, I’ll try,” Degas promised.
– Do you snore? The walls here are thin and I won't be able to sleep.
“No, I sleep peacefully,” answered Degas, already losing patience.
- Then it's okay. “I’ll rent this room to you,” said the satisfied owner.
“But I must honestly warn you,” Degas noted, “that I am an artist.”
- So what?
“I’m afraid you may be alarmed by the splash of the water in which I wash my brushes!”

Which I always read with pleasure.

The world of ballet by Edgar Degas

Pink, yellow, blue, green... the famous French artist Edgar Degas or simply Edgar Degas saw ballerinas in this color scheme. However, he very rarely depicted bvlerins dancing on stage; his world was behind the scenes, in dance classes and at ballet rehearsals. Degas can be called a chronicler of dance, a chronicler of how hard it is to create what later delights us so much on the theater stage...

For many, Degas seems to be some kind of ballet specialist who has reached the point of mania. A significant portion of his work is indeed dedicated to the servants of Terpsichore - both to those classes in which they receive a special and very difficult education, and to those performances in which they, dressed in costumes completely different from everything else in the world, must portray some kind of ethereal beings. .. Not only is there no pamphlet on a woman in Degas’s “balletomania” and in his “peeping” of a woman at her toilet, but, on the contrary, both cycles of paintings are actually a glorification of the beauty of a woman, and a glorification of such a connoisseur of her, equal to whom not to be found in the space of centuries. These “hymns to women” by Degas can only be compared with some Egyptian frescoes, with drawings on Greek vases or with Japanese prints.

A.N. Benois "Degas Exhibition"

Edgar Degas Ballerinas in Pink

Edgar Degas painted dancers and ballerinas almost all his life, so his unknown works continue to appear at painting auctions and are in constant demand. In Russia, Degas's works can be seen in the Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts and the Hermitage. A very interesting artist and still unsolved...

Artist Edgar Degas

Brief biographical information. Edgar Degas was born on June 19, 1834 in Paris, into a noble family. After graduating from secondary school, he began studying law, but his acquaintance with the artist Ingres made adjustments to his plans and he decided to become a painter. Degas enrolls in the School of Fine Arts, where he studies the writing style of classic painting and for a number of years skillfully copies paintings by Poussin, Ingres, Titian, Holbein and others in museums in Paris and then Italy. Years pass and Degas becomes a master, opens his workshop in Paris and takes a keen interest in modern life. He displays this life in his paintings, painting horse races, people in cafes, theaters and on the streets. In the 60s, impressionism, then fashionable, entered his life, he met E. Manet, and in 1866 Degas became a regular visitor to the Guerbois cafe, where young artists, led by Manet, gathered. However, Degas is not exactly an impressionist: he almost never painted landscapes and carried out his work in his studio, so the color, air and colors of the impressionists interested him little. The theater appears in Degas' life in 1867, when he becomes close to the musician Désiré Digo, and then meets a number of other Opera artists. The observations he made at performances, rehearsals, in artistic restrooms, and foyers formed the basis for many paintings and sketches. Degas knew all the ballet steps superbly - he studied them very diligently, sketched them and then made his more serious paintings. At the end of his life, the artist went blind, but continued the theme of dance and ballet in sculpture...

Edgar Degas In the rehearsal hall 1878

Edgar Degas Rehearsal 1873

Edgar Degas In ballet class

Edgar Degas Dance Class 1875

Edgar Degas Ballet School 1879

Edgar Degas Dancers 1878

Edgar Degas Dancing School 1879

Edgar Degas Rest after rehearsal

Here is an interesting remark-observation from art critic and painting historian Alexander Nikolaevich Benois regarding Edgar Degas and his work : “Degas had a lot of all sorts of completely inexplicable “aversions”. The strangest included an aversion to dogs, to cats, to flowers, to perfumes, and in political terms... to Dreyfusards. His unsociability was such that he exaggerated in words his poor eyesight, only to not recognize acquaintances on the street or even when meeting in society. There are countless anecdotes about his antics, sometimes very impolite, through which he scared people away and protected his home from all kinds of importuns - this true scourge of all celebrities. over plein air painters and argued that the artist does not need to work in the open air. All this taken together is puzzling, and it is natural that Degas’s reputation as a dry and callous eccentric has become extremely stronger. However, under all these oddities (with the possible exception of anti-Dreyfusardism) there is one basis. , - and this basis is a frantic passion for work, the desire to protect oneself from all interference, from all distraction, the desire to concentrate to the utmost degree. In addition, you can find thousands of examples in the artist’s work and biography that refute the information from which the “legend of the evil Degas” was created. ( A.N. Benois "Degas Exhibition")

Edgar Degas Ballerina

Edgar Degas Two Dancers in the Dressing Room 1880

Edgar Degas Before class

Edgar Degas Ballerina in Green

Edgar Degas Dancer 1880

Edgar Degas Ballerina

Edgar Degas Ballerina with Fan

Pastel and charcoal in Degas “live” and are subject to such convolutions of the will, such whims of taste (all of Degas’s art is filled with wonderful whims) that even the most ingenious analyzes cannot determine. Looking at Degas's drawings is one of the greatest pleasures, this is one of the most wonderful introductions to beauty.

A.N. Benoit "Edgar Degas"

Edgar Degas Ballerinas in dance

Edgar Degas Ballerinas in Blue

Edgar Degas Young dancer

Edgar Degas Ballerina

Edgar Degas At the Bench

Edgar Degas Ballerina and Lady with a Fan 1885

Edgar Degas Dancers 1880

Edgar Degas Dancers in Pink - Ballet Scene 1879

Edgar Degas Dancer with a Bouquet 1880

Edgar Degas Dancer on stage

Edgar Degas Arabesque 1877

Edgar Degas Greek Dances 1890

Edgar Degas Orchestra Musicians

Edgar Degas Seated Dancer

Edgar Degas Dancer in Green 1879

Edgar Degas Ballet and Orchestra

Edgar Degas Dancers and Masks 1879

Edgar Degas Ballerinas in Green

Edgar Degas is one of the outstanding and world famous impressionists of France. The painting "Blue Dancers" became one of his most significant works. There is no one who would dispute the fact that Degas is one of the greatest and most talented painters of his century. His creative activity had a significant impact not only on impressionism, but also on world art and culture.

Brief biography

The artist E. Degas, who painted the painting “The Blue Dancers,” was born on July 19, 1834 in the capital of France, Paris. His family was of aristocratic origin. His father was the manager of a large banking branch in France, founded at one time by the artist’s grandfather in Italy.

Over time, Degas' family moved to Italy, fearing for their lives, because the Great Revolution had begun in France. It was in Italy that their bank was founded. After the danger had passed, they returned to their homeland.

Creative path

Edgar began to show a penchant for drawing and painting in early childhood. And although at a young age he was forced to study law, he never had any interest in this science. Thanks to his family's money, he could devote himself to painting without fear of being broke. At the age of 20, Edgar became a student of the painter Lamothe. In his youth, he really wanted to gain authority and respect from his colleagues and art fans, so it was very important for him that his works were exhibited at the Salon. To do this, he painted paintings on serious historical themes. Among the most famous paintings of that period are “Semiramis laying down the city” (1861), “The Disasters of Orleans” (1865) and “Alexander and Bucephalus” (1861-1862).

A little later, he went on a trip to Italy, where he created a group portrait of the Belleli family. Here he stayed for several months. The artist was not only inspired by the beauty of this wonderful country, its azure seashores, bright colors and warm, sunny days, but he was more interested in the paintings of the great creators of the Italian Renaissance. His creative career includes a huge number of works. However, early, pre-impressionist paintings are of slightly less interest among art connoisseurs.

Meet the Impressionists

None of the works described above has anything to do with impressionism, so the painting “Blue Dancers” is very different in style and technique. Degas met in 1861. It was a strong friendship for the rest of my life. It was Manet who introduced Degas to other representatives of the movement in painting, which was later called impressionism. The artists were united by similar views in painting; they were both completely absorbed in this movement.

The hero of our article became very interested in the new style, so he began to create mainly in accordance with its principles. The painting "Blue Dancers" by Edgar Degas also belongs to the impressionistic style, although some distinctive features can already be found in it. It rather belongs to late impressionism. The work was created in 1897.

E. Degas "Blue Dancers": description of the painting

The stylistic features of the painting are primarily related to the fact that the canvas belongs to the late period of the painter’s work. His vision at that time began to deteriorate greatly due to age, so he began to use larger strokes, paying less and less attention to small details. The painting "Blue Dancers" depicts four girls in blue dresses preparing to perform a dance. Many art lovers consider this work a real masterpiece. Its unique, delicate and soft color scheme is especially highly valued. The painting “Blue Dancers” is of particular value for Russians, because its original is kept in Moscow, in the Alexander Sergeevich Pushkin Museum of Art. This is one of the outstanding exhibits of the museum.

Contribution to art

A simple description of the painting “Blue Dancers” is not able to fully convey all the beauty and splendor of this work. Even illustration and reproduction cannot do this. Only live can you enjoy all the magic of this brilliant canvas.

The contribution of E. Degas to world art and culture is undoubtedly enormous. In addition to the painting “Blue Dancers,” his creative collection also contains a very large number of great works that are stored in the most famous museums and galleries in the world or in private collections. Most of his paintings have already been sold out and have long been concentrated in the hands of art organizations and major patrons of the arts.

Today many of his works are highly valued. At art auctions, Degas' paintings are sold for hundreds, or even millions, of US dollars. And his name is forever inscribed in the annals of history as one of the best painters of the 19th century. And for the French he is a real national hero; they are proud that he is their compatriot.

Conclusion

The work of impressionist artists is highly valued today. E. Degas also belongs to them. “Blue Dancers” is a painting that is rightfully considered one of the most important in his life. Although many of his paintings are considered real masterpieces of painting. The artist's name is known all over the world. Even people far from art hear his name. His paintings are studied in schools during lessons on world art culture. (MHC).

Each of Degas's works is interesting in its own way, but the painting "Blue Dancers" stands out even among all his creations. This is a truly great work, which was the pride of the artist himself, and is now part of the permanent exhibition of the Museum of Art in Moscow.

Edgar Degas. Blue dancers. 1897 Gallery of American and European Arts of the 19th and 20th centuries. , Moscow.

“People call me a painter of dancers. But it doesn’t occur to them that my interest in dancers is dictated by my interest in movement and beautiful clothes.” Edgar Degas.

Edgar Degas painted an infinite number of dancers. On the stage of the Paris Opera. In the dressing rooms. At grueling rehearsals.

He depicted them in a moment of triumph. Tired and yawning. Doing stretching. Correcting pointe shoes.

The painting “Blue Dancers” is like the main chord in this entire string of works. She's beautiful. As if all other works were just sketches before the creation of this masterpiece.

Why is she so attractive? Here are just 5 features of the picture that make it so fascinating.

1. Shimmering pastel by Degas

“Blue Dancers” are written in pastels. For those who don’t know, these are soft pencils like wax crayons. It is with their help that you can achieve such a rich color.

In addition, Degas invented his own way of working with pastels. He applied steam to the drawing. The pastel softened, and the artist could shade it with his fingers or brush. This made the color even more shimmery.

However, pastels have one drawback. Like regular chalk, it may crumble over time. The material is considered short-lived compared to oil paints. Therefore, artists fix it with a special solution or regular hairspray.

Degas did not recognize any known fixative. The master rightly believed that they all “eat up” the color. In fact, under the influence of any fixative, the pastel fades.

Degas' friend, the Italian artist Chialiva, developed the secret composition. It allowed the color to be preserved almost in its original form. And it significantly extended the life of the painting. Therefore, Degas's pastels have reached us perfectly preserved. Chialiva took his secret to the grave.

By the way, Degas’s works could have been in black and white. The artist said that if he had his way, he would paint only with charcoal. But “everyone is pressing, demanding color.”

So we could see not blue dancers, but black and white ones. As, for example, in the drawing “Admiration of Virginia.”

Edgar Degas. Admiration for Virginia. 1880-1883 National Gallery of Art, Washington

2. The magic of composition

Do you think that there are four ballerinas dancing in the picture? They don't actually dance. And there are not four of them at all.

The girls depicted are preparing to go on stage. One, at the very bottom of the picture, leaned over to her pointe shoe. The other two are adjusting the straps of their dresses. And the fourth holds on to the decorations to look at her outfit from behind. But their movements are so graceful that the illusion of dancing is created.

The most interesting thing is that there are most likely not four different girls in the picture. This is one dancer, captured at different moments of movement. Negatives of photographs of the ballerina in various poses were found in Degas' personal documents. Perhaps it was from these photographs that the composition was created.

3. The picture was painted from a photograph

It has not been proven that the painting was painted from life. Perhaps it was created based on photographs.

This is exactly how Degas created the portrait of Pauline Metternich. The princess never posed for him. He painted a portrait based on a photograph.

Left: photo of Princess Paulina. Right: Portrait of Princess Metternich. Edgar Degas. 1865 London National Gallery.

You can read about this amazing portrait in the article:

The fact that the painting was made from a photograph is indicated by the “cut” edges.

Not all dancers “fit into the frame.” Two of them have “truncated” tops. It's as if the photo was taken without preparation. And the girls didn’t even notice that they were being filmed.

The same cut edges are found in Degas’ depictions of bathers. The viewer gets the feeling that he is spying on the woman through a keyhole or around a corner.

Edgar Degas. Basin for washing. 1886 Paper, pastel. Musee D'Orsay, Paris.

4. The most beautiful ballerinas of Degas

Edgar Degas was indifferent to women. And even more so for your models. He wrote them impartially, without embellishment. Therefore, his dancers are not always graceful and beautiful. The artist did not strive to show scenery created for the viewer. He depicted life itself, sometimes unsightly.

On canvas "Two Ballet Dancers" girls in far from the most graceful poses. They sat down on a bench and did stretches.

Edgar Degas. Two ballet dancers. 1879 Shelburne Museum, Vermouth, USA

Another scene from the life of a dancer is also not to be admired. We sort of opened the door to her dressing room. The costume designer adjusts the ballerina's dress. She has a dissatisfied, frowning face. Maybe the corset was pulled too tight. She flexed her arms awkwardly.

Edgar Degas. A dancer in her dressing room. 1880 Oskar Reyart Foundation, Winterthurz, Switzerland

Against the backdrop of these ugly, albeit vitally truthful scenes, the blue dancers seem to be the embodiment of grace and charm.

5. Legends of the Paris Opera

Blue dancers stand backstage. In a moment they will have to go out to the audience. On the stage of the Paris Opera. This theater is still one of the most famous in the world. And if you have read Gaston Leroux’s novel “The Phantom of the Opera” or attended the musical of the same name, then you probably know these fascinating legends.

The Phantom of the Opera's lair was located in the catacombs. They could be reached by boat on an underground lake directly under the Opera building. There were huge catfish there.

What's most surprising is that it's true. Only under the building there is not a lake, but a large reservoir of water. It was built in case of fire. And there really are catfish there. They are fed by theater staff. It’s true that you won’t be able to sail across this “lake” by boat – the ceiling above the reservoir is too low.

The Phantom of the Opera also demanded that theater directors not sell tickets to box No. 5. He considered it only his own. Rumor has it that tickets to this box were never actually sold before.

Now you can buy box tickets absolutely free. But she really belongs to the Phantom of the Opera. According to the sign on her door.

Translation: Box 5 by 6 seats. Lodge of the Phantom of the Opera.

The most amazing thing is that Degas’ talent was appreciated during his lifetime. “Blue Dancers” were sold to him for a fabulous sum - 60,000 francs!

But money did not bring Degas much happiness. He had no family. He was considered a hermit. He rarely left his workshop. There was an intricate latch on the door of his apartment. The artist could control it from his workshop, from the second floor. If the guest was unwanted, the latch on the door was never raised. And she very often did not get up.

Read about another Degas painting with an unusual fate in the article.

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