Artists who lived during the time of famed impressionist Edgar Degas produced works of striking visual richness and breadth, a fact not lost on the organizers of Union’s newest exhibition.
“Degas’ relationship to music was a unique phenomenon, but it is wholly at home in the complex artistic world of 19th century Paris,” said David Ogawa, chair of the Visual Arts Department. “We hope to reveal some of this complexity through our exhibition.”
“Degas’ Contemporaries,” which opens Saturday, coincides with the “Degas & Music” show currently on view at the Hyde Collection in Glens Falls. It includes 11 prints by the French artist’s peers. The works, from the College’s permanent collection, will be displayed in Schaffer Library’s Lally Reading Room through Oct. 16.
Similar events are also being hosted by more than 40 other regional organizations, all of which are participating in the “Season of Degas” event that revolves around the show at the Hyde.
Degas knew all the artists whose pieces will be highlighted at Union, and in many cases, he maintained close personal relationships with them and collected their work.
Artists featured in “Degas Contemporaries” include Felix Bracquemond, Jean-Baptiste Camille Corot, Honore Daumier, Charles-Emile Jacque, Edouard Manet, Charles Meryon, Jean-Francois Millet, Auguste Raffet and James Abbott McNeill Whistler.
For more information about the exhibit, curated by Ogawa with assistance from Kelly Craparotta ’09, please click here.