Edgar Degas, Photographer
Category: Books,Arts & Photography,Photography & Video
Edgar Degas, Photographer Details
Degas's major surviving photographs are analyzed and reproduced for the first time. Read more
Reviews
I was fortunate enough to attend the exhibit at the Met that this belonged to, many years ago. Degas is perhaps most famous for his paintings, particularly of ballerinas. This collection is a rare glimpse at his work as a photographer- not using the tool for staid family poses but instead as a new artistic medium. If you, like me, were lucky enough to attend the exhibit, you probably remember the stunning gold plate negatives on display. I've been unable to find pictures or even mention of them elsewhere. But in this book, you'll find beautiful reproductions of all three.I'm delighted that I have this book. If nothing else, it is fun and fascinating to flip through and see photographs taken with an eye trained in classic painting in the mid-19th century. I wouldn't pay the several hundred that some people are charging for this book, but so far as I know this is the only collection ever printed of Degas' photographs, and as a museum-published book, only had a very limited print run. If you can get a copy for a reasonable price, it's well worth it (if this kind of thing interests you) and something you'll more than likely want to hold onto with both hands.