For ballet dancers and aficionados, the name Degas conjures up images of the artist’s many depictions of ballerinas, both on canvas and in sculpture. While other impressionist painters of the 19th century were interested in capturing the changing effects of natural daylight, Degas was fascinated with artificial light, in particular the light of the theatre. Many of his most famed works depict dancers in performance.
In June 2016, the National Gallery of Victoria will present “Degas: A New Vision”, developed in partnership with the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. Presenting more than 200 works, the exhibition will showcase Degas the painter but also his mastery of drawing, print-making, sculpture and photography.
The exhibition will be presented thematically, grouping together subjects to which Degas returned throughout his career, including portraits, the nude, horse racing, Parisian nightlife, women at work and leisure, and, of course, his famed ballet scenes. The exhibition will also explore Degas’s later work and his experiments with sculpture and photography.
Degas: A New Vision will be at NGV International from 24 June – 18 September 2016 as part of the Melbourne Winter Masterpieces series. Tickets on sale now from ngv.vic.gov.au