Edgar Degas

Degas revolutionized the depiction of the human figure through radical compositions and unconventional cropping inspired by photography and Japanese prints. His masterful handling of light and movement, particularly in dance and intimate interior scenes, prioritized form and draftsmanship over the soft luminosity favored by his Impressionist peers. A virtuoso draftsman, he captured the ephemeral grace of ballerinas and the psychological complexity of modern urban life with unprecedented immediacy.

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