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The School Girl Sculpture By Edgar Degas (c. 1881)
Degas' idiosyncratic sculptures exist outside the 19th-century French sculptural tradition.
With the exception of the, now famous, Little fourteen-year-old Dancer, Degas never exhibited any of his sculptures. After his death, over 150 wax sculptures ere found at his studio. some were rough studies, but many were very refined.
Perhaps it was due to his visual handicap that, later in life, wax modeling appealed to Degas so strongly. His motto was: "Le dessin n'est pas la forme, c'est la maniere de la voir" (the design is not the form, but the method of viewing). This definitely applies to 'The Schoolgirl' with her half shy, half saucy walk.
The course of life of the Parisian painter had few dramatic peaks. being the eldest son of a well-to-do family the cynical, snobby loner was able to devote his life to the arts. Furthermore, he remained a bachelor, because: There is love and there is work, and we only have one heart.'
His classical education can be recognized in his earlier work, in particular the strict composition and lining inspired by Ingres whom he greatly admired. Degas took a special position within the group of artists led by his friend Monet, who regularly got together in the' Café Gurebois'. His cynicism and sharp tongue however, made him difficult in company and many ideas from Zola, Renoir and Monet did not appeal to him.Although he referred to himself as an "independent realist', he was very much involved in the impressionistic revolution and the themes and techniques developed the traditional and modern art of painting.
In 1874, together with Monet, he organised the first exhibition of the independent's, which was named' the impressionists' by a critic. A realist: 'I know nothing of inspiration, spontaneity and temperament.' He locked himself up inside his studio and used photos as a mnemonic device, whilst others went outside with the tubes of paint which had recently come onto the market. Degas considered that utter nonsense: 'Painting is not a sport', besides: 'I do not have the habit of painting when I am in the countryside.'
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