L'Absinthe, by Edgar Degas
Self Portrait, by Edgar DegaS
Little Dancer Age 14, by Edgar Degas
A REVOLUTION IN ART.
Edgar Degas the Realist Artist
with his contemporaries including, Monet, Renoir, Gauguin, Cesanne, Cassatt, Morrisot, Pissaro and others rebelled from the
harsh criticism of the Salon Judges. These artists started their own breakthrough in
art called the “Impressionist School.”
Mary Cassatt an American Painter living in Paris befriends Edgar Degas
and leads us through this story of a revolution in art involving challenge, rejection, dedication and ultimately
world fame.
EDGAR DEGAS.
Artists, writers
and intellectuals gather daily to meet in Paris Cafe's to discuss events in Paris in the early 1870s.
They have their routine of sitting in the same seats, arguing, joking and drinking beer.
Dapper EDOUARD MANET and the talented witty intellectual EDGAR DEGAS are frequently arguing over the merits of displaying
their paintings in the Salon. SALON JURORS decide whether the art is good enough to be accepted or rejected.
Both Manet and Degas have successfully had their paintings admitted to the Salon where Manet seeks medals
and Degas now questions the competence of the jurors and considers the possibility of breaking away from the Salon entirely.
It was in Parisean Cafes that the Impressionist Group was formed to independently display their art without
interference from the jurors. It was agreed that no artist could display their
art with the Impressionists Group if they submitted their art to the Salon.
Manet prefers
to stay with the Salon while Degas is joined by MONET, RENOIR, MORRISOT, CEZANNE, PISSARO and others to organize the First
Impressionist Exhibition.
The First Impressionists Exhibition lost money.
Edgar Degas is the motivating force in trying to keep this group of artists together. He has to
deal with replacing artists who defect by returning to the Salon.
Edgar invites an American
artist MARY CASSATT to join the Impressionists in time for the Fourth Exhibition, that was very successful. Mary
is overwhelmed to be the first American invited to the Impressionists.
PAUL GAUGUIN eventually joins group as
does SISLEY, SEURAT and others. Edgar Degas becomes the mentor for Mary Cassatt whose art improves
under Degas' influence. Degas' art commands high prices and was in great demand.
Life seems fine until Degas complains about his failing eyesight. The DOCTOR confirms
that the deterioration will continue and Degas will eventually go blind.
Mary Cassett asks. "What
will you do?"
Degas replies, "Beethoven could write music while deaf, I will learn to paint
while blind."
Degas knows his time in limited and oil paint takes too long to dry
so he later switches to pastels to be more productive. His last pastels let us see how blind
he has become.
CLICK HERE TO ORDER "ABSINTHE" DIRECTLY FROM PUBLISHER.