19th Century Art History

Paper Summary:

An examination of two impressionist artists: Edgar Degas and Auguste Rodin. The paintings are examined for their similarities and differences. The painters' styles are explored and the writer discusses how their techniques were part of the development of impressionist art of the period.

From the Paper:

"Rodin, on the other hand, creates not an impression of a feeling, but rather an expression of a concept. Unlike Degas, he pays intense attention to the modeling of musculature, to the exact twisting of the torso, to the squint of an eye or the precise extension and elevation of a tortured leg. While Rodin expresses tough and demanding concepts-it doesn't get much tougher than martyrdom-Degas creates an impression of expectancy, a willingness and readiness to move forward from the slightly uncomfortable position of now to one of greater fulfillment later. This is evident in the posture of the young dancer, and, according to at least some of his biographers, it is also an apt metaphor for Degas' own approach to and feelings about his own work."

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