Image Gallery
Miss La La at the Cirque Fernando by Degas
An 1879 oil on canvas painting, Miss La La at the Cirque Fernando, by Edgar Degas (1834-1917), the French impressionist painter. This circus was close to the artist's apartment in Paris and Miss La La's acrobatics – suspending herself from a wire using only her teeth – appealed to Degas' love of unusual viewpoints. The scene appears as it would to an audience member using opera glasses. The off-centre positioning of the acrobat adds to the sensation of her being at a great height. (National Gallery, London)
Bibliography
- Bouruet-Aubertot, Veronique. The Complete Book of Impressionism . Ji Mu Wen Hua, 2020.
- Howard, Michael. Encyclopedia of Impressionism. Thunder Bay Pr, 1997.
- Rubin, James H & Lablanche, Dominique & Manss, Thomas. Impressionism A&I . Phaidon Press, 1999.
- Thomson, Belinda. Impressionism. Thames & Hudson, 2022.
Questions & Answers
How did Impressionism change the art world?
- Impressionism changed the art world because it changed the focus to everyday subjects rather than religious and mythological ones. Impressionist painters also used brighter colours and focussed on capturing momentary scenes of light or human activity.
What is the most famous Impressionist painting?
- Today, probably the most famous impressionist painting is Water Lilies by Claude Monet.
Which Impressionist went blind?
- Claude Monet was an impressionist painter who almost went blind. His sight deteriorated so much he could not distinguish colours or shapes for his work without special glasses and, eventually, an operation.
What changes did post impressionist paintings show?
- Post-Impressionist paintings made changes to impressionism, chiefly adding more symbolism and the more dramatic use of contrasting colours,