Works by Degas in this exhibition consisted of drawings, prints, photographs, monotypes, one sculpture, and a letter, all from a single private collection. The collection endeavored to illuminate the background and personality of Edgar Degas the man, as well as to present his genius as an artist. The subject matter of these works by Degas is often quite personal. In addition to three rare self-portraits, the collection includes depictions of close family members, his loyal housekeeper Sabine Neyt, and multiple portraits of artists Édouard Manet and Mary Cassatt.

Edgar Degas: The Private Impressionist highlighted the artist’s interests and individual methods of creating through experimentation and touches upon notable themes of Degas’ oeuvre such as anatomy, horse racing, and ballet.  Although often aloof to strangers, Degas shared warmth and loyalty with his family as well as with a wide circle of friends, which included some of the greatest writers and artists of the epoch.  Works by Degas’ circle in this exhibition included Mary Cassatt, Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, Paul Cézanne, Édouard Manet, Camille Pissarro, and Edweard Muybridge, among others.

Dpecial programming, through the series Muscarelle Explorations, focused on Degas and included lectures, a film, a book club discussion, and a concert of period music to further explore the cultural life of the artist and his peers.  In addition, a sequence of live drawing workshops in the galleries gave participants a special view of the exhibition and provided a deeper understanding of Degas’ methods and techniques.  Recordings of various programs are available through the Explorations page at Muscarelle.org!

EDGAR DEGAS & AUGUSTE CLOT | Before the Race, circa 1895 | Color lithograph

Exhibition organized by Landau Traveling Exhibitions, Los Angeles, CA | www.a-r-t.com in association with Denenberg Fine Arts, West Hollywood, CA

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