Degas and the Dance [Paperback]

Jill DeVonyar (Author), Richard Kendall (Author), Sharon AvRutick (Author), Lillian Browse (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 2, 2002

Among the supreme masterpieces of 19th-century art are Edgar Degas' dramatic, incisive and often brilliantly coloured pictures of the ballet. He has enormous popularity as the foremost artist of the dance - with more than half his vast body of paintings, pastels, drawings and sculptures devoted to the on- and off-stage activities of ballerinas - and this catalogue, accompanying an exhibition, illuminates the theme in its historical context. This authoritative volume presents material about Degas as an artist and his relationship with the ballet of his day. He is shown to be knowledgeable about the training and technique of dancers, as he responds to numerous ballet productions at the Paris Opera and the daily routines of the classroom.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 2-5-Degas created more than a thousand ballet pictures during his career. He spent hours behind the scenes at the Paris Opera and had dancers pose in his studio. Most of them were poor, working-class girls, hence the nickname "petits rats." He illustrated the hard work behind the finished product, showing ballerinas rehearsing, warming up, stretching, and even waiting before an exam. Just as the dancers practiced the same positions over and over again, so did Degas draw them repeatedly. Full-color reproductions of sketches and preparatory drawings are included as well as finished paintings in oil and pastel. Rubin's narrative focuses exclusively on the artist and the dance, with additional biographical material included at the end. Quotes from the painter and his friends enliven the text. The bibliography includes books about ballet as well as about Degas. This is a lovely book, one for dancers as much as for art appreciation.
Robin L. Gibson, Perry County District Library, New Lexington, OH
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal

Obsessed by the dance world, Edgar Degas (1834-1917) sketched, painted, and sculpted dancers for nearly 50 years. This catalog, an irresistible combination of dance, art, and scholarship, accompanies an exhibition in Detroit (until January 2003) and Philadelphia (February 12-May 11) that is destined for surefire success. Beyond the gorgeous reproductions of 144 paintings, drawings, and sculptures, eight original and probing essays delve into the artist's working methods backstage sur la sc ne at the Paris Op ra and the evolution of his prolific dance oeuvre. Written by curator and former dancer DeVonyar and noted Degas scholar Kendall, the text is detailed and illuminating. Historic photographs of dancers, rehearsals, ballet masters, theaters, sets, and costumes are used liberally to connect period dance culture to the art. Visually exciting and ambitious in scale and focus, this is an essential purchase for academics, museums, and most public libraries.
Russell T. Clement, Northwestern Univ. Lib., Evanston, IL
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: Harry N. Abrams (October 2, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0810932822
• ISBN-13: 978-0810932821
• Product Dimensions: 11.9 x 9.8 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,684,235 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A review of the BOOK...., January 3, 2006

By 

J. Arnesen "operafantomet" (Norway) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Degas and the Dance (Paperback)

I see the other reviewer has reviewed AMAZON's delivery service and not the actual book... Which is a pity. Because the book is truly gorgeous and an amazing source of knowledge to those who's interested in Degas. It has an incredible amount of picture documentation, as well as tons of interesting written material. It shows in particular how Degas to some extent understood the world of ballet so well he was able to correct the petite ballet rats if they showed an imperfect technique...

It also displays much interesting info about the two old Parisian opera houses Rue Peletier (destroyed in a fire) and Palais Garnier (still existing and in use).

And last, but not least, it shows Degas's various motifs, techiques and ideas. I love this book most of all the arts book I have, and though sligthly expensive I found it to be worth every penny.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Much better than Cem Altinel's review suggests, November 5, 2007

By 

Kerry Smith (Toronto, Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Degas and the Dance (Paperback)

The copy I saw didn't show evidence of poor color separations, nothing that I could detect at any rate...I especially appreciated the degree of attention paid to Degas' drawings...some publishers seem to think that finished paintings are the only things worth reproducing in color. Next paycheck, I'm buying this one! I also thought that the reviewer's crack about a typically rough American approach was uncalled for (and I'm not an American). Ever hear, for example, of Yale University Press?

0 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Dissapointment, October 17, 2007

By 

CEM ALTINEL - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Degas and the Dance (Paperback)

This book has neither fulfilled my expectations on Degas nor provided his most distinguished paintings. The dance theme is not properly supported with the paintings. Additionally the quality of colour separations is very poor. I have also found the page designs unsatisfactory. A typical rough American approach to European Art.