Edgar Degas (1834-1917)

La Classe de danse (The Dance Class)
by Edgar Degas 

EDGAR DEGAS (1834-1917). He was born Hilaire Germaine Edgar de Gas, the son of a rich banker. He is regarded as one of the pioneers of Impressionism, though his early work was inspired by neoclassicism, and he preferred to be known as a realist. Many of his paintings (about 50%) depict dancing and dancers. Works include Four Dancers (c1899); The Dance Class (1873-76); At the Races (1877-1880); Girl Drying Herself (1885).


http://aworldelsewhere-finn.blogspot.com/2011/05/whistlestop-tour-of-western-painting.html