{"id":44289,"date":"2017-06-08T14:36:36","date_gmt":"2017-06-08T13:36:36","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/centmagazine.co.uk\/?p=44289"},"modified":"2018-01-23T13:04:38","modified_gmt":"2018-01-23T12:04:38","slug":"flowing-degas-100-years-of-ballet-bathing-and-bodies","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/staging.centmagazine.co.uk\/?p=44289","title":{"rendered":"Flowing; Degas: 100 Years of Ballet, Bathing and Bodies"},"content":{"rendered":"

It’s the centenary of the death of Edgar Degas<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"degas<\/a>
\nBlue Dancers<\/em>
\nc.1899
\nPushkin Museum, Moscow, Russia
\nPastel
\n25.59 in x 25.59 in<\/p>\n

Degas exhibited paintings along with the Impressionists, yet refused to fall under their house-style. Always maintaining his independence and individual way of looking, the artist is responsible for some of the most recognisable works in the history of art, and for good reason. His attention to detail, painstaking draftsmanship and move away from the traditional academies of Europe and their insistence on history painting and mythology solidifies his importance.<\/p>\n

While Degas is recognised as one of the most significant and influential painters of the Impressionist period, in recent times his work has been questioned and in some cases derided by feminist art critics. It\u2019s often postulated that his work (particularly the intimate scenes of the bathers) is voyeuristic and objectifying. It\u2019s hard to fan this thought away, particularly when the artist himself fanned the flames by stating that he wanted to capture the bathers as though through a keyhole. Indeed, Degas is prime territory for writings on the \u2018male gaze\u2019.<\/p>\n

Check out our article on the \u2018female gaze\u2019<\/a> here.<\/p>\n

So how do we look at Degas today?<\/p>\n

We look at him the way we look at Picasso \u2013 we divorce the work from the person. Of the seven most important women in Picasso\u2019s life, 2 killed themselves and 2 went mad. His polygamy and maltreatment of ‘his women’ is well documented. But, we shouldn\u2019t boycott all those masterpieces because of his personal life. The same goes for Degas. Appreciate the use of colour, the composition, the light, the emotion, the grandeur of it all.<\/p>\n

\"Degas<\/a>
\n After the Bath, Woman Drying Herself<\/em>
\n1890-5
\nPastel on wove paper laid on millboard
\n103.5 x 98.5 cm<\/p>\n

\"degas<\/a>The Tub
\n<\/i>1886
\nPastel on card
\n60 x 83 cm<\/p>\n

\"degas<\/a>
\n After the Bath, Woman Drying Herself<\/em>
\n1900-1905
\nCharcoal and pastel on tracing paper<\/p>\n

\"Degas<\/a><\/p>\n

Dancers<\/em>
\nc.1900
\nPrinceton University Art Museum
\nDrawing, pastel<\/p>\n

\"degas<\/a>
\nDance Class<\/em>
\n1874
\nOil on canvas
\n32 7\/8 x 30 3\/8 in<\/p>\n

This June it’s ‘Flowing’ month here at Cent, so why not indulge in some Ballet? Here are our top picks.<\/p>\n

Royal Ballet <\/a>– The Dream \/ Symphonic Variations \/ Marguerite and Armand<\/p>\n

8-10 June<\/p>\n