Description
The painting "The Mante Family" by the famous French artist Edgar Degas is a masterpiece that continues to captivate viewers to this day. This painting was created in the year 1867 and has an original size of 90 x 50 cm.
The artistic style used by Degas in this work is impressionism, which is characterized by the use of loose brushstrokes and the capture of light and movement in the scene. In "The Mante Family", Degas uses this technique to create a scene from the daily life of a French bourgeois family.
The composition of the work is interesting, as Degas uses an unusual perspective to show the family seated on a sofa. The perspective of the work is from above, which creates a sensation that the viewer is looking at the family from an elevated position.
The color used in the work is soft and delicate, with pastel tones that create a calm and serene atmosphere. Soft colors also help to highlight the family's stylish clothing and accessories, which are a sign of their social status.
The story behind the painting is interesting, as the family depicted in the work is believed to be the family of Degas's sister, Marguerite. The work was exhibited at the Paris Salon in 1869, where it received positive reviews for its impressionistic technique and realistic depiction of everyday life.
A little-known aspect of the work is that Degas made several preliminary sketches and studies before creating the final painting. These sketches show that Degas experimented with different positions and compositions before settling on perspective from above.
In short, "The Mante Family" is an impressive work by Edgar Degas noted for its impressionistic technique, unusual composition, soft color, and realistic depiction of everyday life. The story behind the work and the previous sketches also add additional interest to this masterpiece.