In today’s artist feature, we’re highlighting French painter, Edgar Degas, a leader in the Impressionist movement. Unlike his contemporaries, Degas rejected painting outdoor sceneries and instead looked for ways to portray the human form. His work highlighted movement, touch, and femininity while maintaining a modern edge for the time.

Much like other artists of his time, Degas’ father had wishes for him to study law. Respecting his father’s desires, Degas decided to enroll at the University of Paris in 1853, however, he left school after two years to study the art of the great masters in Italy.

By his late twenties, his paintings began being exhibited at the Salon in Paris, France. However, to Degas’ great disappointment, his paintings attracted little if any attention. Distraught, Degas decided to focus his paintings on more contemporary forms, rather than the historical paintings he was accustomed to creating. Ballerinas quickly became Degas’ ideal, modern models of study—he loved their elegance, costumes and scenery of ballet, as well as the dancer’s beautiful movement and strength.

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Degas’ sheer energy and his urge to capture fleeting movement in its countless nuances resulted in a remarkably impressive series of paintings, pastels, monotypes, drawings, and even wax sculptures – however, his method and techniques were the exact opposite of other Impressionists. Nothing is impulsive about any of Degas’ works, as he didn’t attempt to capture moments in just a quick brush stroke as others. Degas’ elegant yet emotional and well-thought-out style inspired our design of flowing, romantic calligraphy paired with a classic layout.

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Love the Degas design for your wedding invitation suite? Submit a request for a quote here! Interested in learning more about the artists who inspired our semi-custom collection? Read all about the Rothko suite here and the Monet suite here.