Edgar Degas produced thousands of oil paintings during his lifetime, and they are now found throughout the world in art museums and private collections. If you want to spot a painting by Degas in a collection, there are some common elements that can point you in the right direction.
Instructions
1. Look for Impressionist paintings. This type of painting developed in the late 1800s and examined light and color. Degas painted in this form during the 1870s, although many of his paintings examine the use of artificial light and indoor settings.
2. Watch for the favorite themes of Degas. He enjoyed painting scenes from everyday life and entertainment, capturing ballet dancers, operas, horse races and cafes. In his later work, Degas often focused on nude women and their baths.
3. Check for motion and figures in the paintings. Degas studied how people moved, often making numerous sketches of simple motions and ballet poses. Some exhibits may include drawings that Degas made in preparation for a painting. His paintings often focus on people as well, rather than the landscapes that other Impressionists painted.
4. Spot a use of space in the painting that focuses the eye on a single figure. Degas often used clusters of ballerinas or physical objects to highlight one form in another part of the painting. For example, in "Dance Lesson," Degas uses several groups of ballerinas to draw attention to the single dancer on the left of the painting.
5. Examine the painting for a Degas signature. If you find a painting that you think my be a Degas, get up close and look for his signature somewhere near the bottom. Degas signed on the left as well as the right side of the painting.
