Edgar Degas (b. 1834 d. 1917) was an eminent French Impressionist artist, best known for his pastel drawings and oil paintings. He also created bronze sculptures, prints and drawings. His work engages with the subject of dance, particularly ballet; more than half of his work depicts dancers. He sought to capture fleeting moments illuminated by artificial light, particularly in theatres and cafés. His art captures daily Parisian life. He was influenced by the paintings and frescoes he observed during his extended trips to Italy during the late 1850s. He studied these traditions and reinterpreted them in modern ways.
