OIL PAINTING: At the Ballet, c.1880-1881
A pupil of the great French classical painter Ingres, Degas appeared destined to become an academic artist but his interest in photography and admiration for Manet led him to experiment with modern subjects: most notably cafes, the ballet and horse-races. Degas ' innovative sense of composition emphasized movement and the idea of the casual glance. A key member of the Impressionists and a master of technique, Degas experimented with pastel, water color, printing and wax sculpture.