Another Degas By… Part 1
Say that you’re at a bar, and you engage yourself in a conversation with a classy lady. If she says her friends (who are marrying each other) are a match made in heaven, don’t quip with “Oh, well then they should just die then.” Because it’s not a good reply. She paused and put out her cigarette, said she was too drunk, then walked away.
What does that have to do with Edgar Degas? I don’t know, but he did once say, “Women in general are ugly.” Granted, one was just my poor wit at its finest, where his declaration was probably more of a stock answer to any “you paint ugly women” comment he’d receive. It is strange though, because his paintings are beautiful, and they are mostly of women.
I admire an artist whose figures have natural weight and candid movement in their body. Degas does this well — many of his subjects are ballerinas and nude women doing very mundane things. Like this woman polishing her foot…
Or these dancers who are being eaten by ants…
There is more to say about this fine artist, but my “saying dumb things” quota is bursting at the seams. Also, I’m very proud of my post’s title.
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