M. Degas's thoughts on Art:
"A picture is a thing which requires as much knavery, as much malice, and as much vice as the perpetration of a crime. Make it untrue and add an accent of truth."
"Work a great deal at evening effects, lamplight, candlelight, etc. The intriguing thing is not to show the source of light but the effects of the lighting."
"Hitherto the nude has always been represented in poses which presuppose an audience, but these women of mine are honest, simple folk, unconcerned by any other interests than those involved in their physical condition. Here is another; she is washing her feet. It's as if you looked through a key-hole."
Thoughts on the Impressionists:
Degas never considered himself an Impressionist. He thought of himself as a realist. And he worked indoors, not outdoors like the impressionists.
This is what he thought of Monet's work: "Why I met Monet himself there, (At an exhibition) and I said to him, 'Let me get out of here. Those reflections in the water hurt my eyes! His pictures were always too draughty for me. If it had been any worse I should have had to turn up my coat collar."
"If I were the government, I would have a special brigade of gendarmes to keep an eye on artists who paint landscapes from nature. Oh, I don't mean to kill anyone, just a little dose of bird-shot now and then as a warning."
And a glimpse of his personal life: "I marry? Oh, I could never bring myself to do it. I would be in mortal misery all my life for fear my wife might say, 'That's a pretty little thing,' after I had finished a picture.'
Degas believed that an artist could not have a personal life.
*All these quotes are from:wikiquote.org/wiki/Edgar_Degas. Thank you wikipedia!
"A picture is a thing which requires as much knavery, as much malice, and as much vice as the perpetration of a crime. Make it untrue and add an accent of truth."
"Work a great deal at evening effects, lamplight, candlelight, etc. The intriguing thing is not to show the source of light but the effects of the lighting."
"Hitherto the nude has always been represented in poses which presuppose an audience, but these women of mine are honest, simple folk, unconcerned by any other interests than those involved in their physical condition. Here is another; she is washing her feet. It's as if you looked through a key-hole."
Thoughts on the Impressionists:
Degas never considered himself an Impressionist. He thought of himself as a realist. And he worked indoors, not outdoors like the impressionists.
This is what he thought of Monet's work: "Why I met Monet himself there, (At an exhibition) and I said to him, 'Let me get out of here. Those reflections in the water hurt my eyes! His pictures were always too draughty for me. If it had been any worse I should have had to turn up my coat collar."
"If I were the government, I would have a special brigade of gendarmes to keep an eye on artists who paint landscapes from nature. Oh, I don't mean to kill anyone, just a little dose of bird-shot now and then as a warning."
And a glimpse of his personal life: "I marry? Oh, I could never bring myself to do it. I would be in mortal misery all my life for fear my wife might say, 'That's a pretty little thing,' after I had finished a picture.'
Degas believed that an artist could not have a personal life.
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| Self Portrait: Degas Lifting His Hat , c1863. (age 29). |
*All these quotes are from:wikiquote.org/wiki/Edgar_Degas. Thank you wikipedia!
Your quotes made me see Degas in rather a different light and left me feeling a little sad that he felt he could not share his life less his work be belittled.
ReplyDeleteFrom what I have read, he was the consummate artist.
DeletePerhaps he was a little egotistical. I don't think he was one of those artists with little cash. I like his painting, but from what I've read, he wasn't always a nice guy. Prim and proper seems to fit the look he has in that painting above.
ReplyDeleteThis quote says a lot about the man:
And a glimpse of his personal life: "I marry? Oh, I could never bring myself to do it. I would be in mortal misery all my life for fear my wife might say, 'That's a pretty little thing,' after I had finished a picture.'
He was not a nice guy, argumentative, critical. Wealth and privilege gives some that kind of imperious personality, I think.
DeleteSounds like a pretty strong character. An artist who lived for his art and didn't mince words.
ReplyDeleteHe certainly did not mince words. But I had to laugh when I read that quote about Monet's paintings, that it hurt his eyes.
DeleteI don't like the sound of him. His comments on other artists were very unpleasant I think. Still enjoy his paintings though.
ReplyDeleteNot friendly or kind. Do we give genius a pass? Picasso was a misogynist, I think. I think we give them a pass unless we have to live with them :).
DeleteHi Natalie .. after the event is easier isn't it - living around geniuses, not even with them .. must be so difficult - I'll need to be back to read properly .. but he sounds somewhat priggish ... for now - cheers Hilary
ReplyDeleteHe does sound a bit full of himself as well, I think.
ReplyDelete