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Degas and the Dance

By Richard Kendall and Jill DeVonyar
Published in 2002 by the AFA in association with Harry N. Abrams, Inc.
303 pages, 315 illus. (190 in color), 9 ½ × 11 ¾ in.
Paper • ISBN 1-885444-26-5304 • $35.00 (Harry N. Abrams, Inc.)
Cloth • ISBN 0-8109-3282-2 • $49.95 (Harry N. Abrams)

Known as the "painter of dancers," Edgar Degas spent many hours observing, painting, sketching, and sculpting the ballerinas at the Paris Opéra, both onstage and off. His fascination with the dance resulted in some of the most well-loved masterpieces of the late nineteenth and early twentieth century. Traditionally, Degas's involvement in the ballet was believed to have been mainly that of a spectator; however, authors Kendall and DeVonyar maintain that Degas was not only knowledgeable about specific ballets—including their costumes, set design, and choreography—but also knew many of the dancers personally and portrayed them in his works. This elegant catalogue marks the first comprehensive look at the artist's most beloved subject, the ballet.

Book-of-the-Month Club Selection

“if you can’t make it to Detroit or Philadelphia, buy this absorbing book.”
—John Richardson, Vanity Fair, October 2002


“a‘must’ for anyone who appreciates the immortal art of Edgar Degas.”
The Bookwatch, October 2002


“groundbreaking exhibition catalogue … sumptuously illustrated throughout”
—James A. Ganz, Master Drawings, Summer 2004