Degas in black and white: the unusual retrospective exhibition at the BnF Richelieu

He is one of the great French impressionist painters, known for his dancers and his scenes of 19th century Paris: Edgar Degas is honored at the BnF Richelieu. The artist reveals himself through his most unusual and little-known works: an opportunity for art lovers to rediscover Degas in a new light.

The BnF invites us to visit the exhibition Degas in Black and White, from May 31 to September 3, 2023. This exhibition brings together 160 drawings, photographs, prints, paintings and sculptures in an exceptional journey, which tells us about an often forgotten passion of the artist. " If I had to redo my life, I would only do black and white," he said...

We can therefore admire more than a hundred works in black and white, made with many different techniques and skills. Yes: Degas is not only a painter, he was also a sculptor, engraver, photographer!

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The exhibition traces the artist's career, from his first experiments in black and white, to his obsession withprintmaking, through his various favorite subjects. We also find here these dance scenes , these moments suspended in the cafes of the capital, moments observed in bourgeois houses...

These different themes are an opportunity for him to test, to learn, to master new techniques. The chiaroscuro, the play of light, the shadows placed to sketch, in a few moments, the present, appear little by little on these very diverse works.

This exhibition at the BnF Richelieu is therefore a great opportunity to dive back into the world of the artist. And to extend your journey to discover the works of Edgar Degas, go to the Musée d'Orsay to visit the Manet/Degas exhibition.

Manet / Degas: our photos of the mirror exhibition at the Musée d'Orsay
Édouard Manet and Edgar Degas, two great artists with opposing styles, are honored at the Musée d'Orsay, in an exhibition presented from March 28 to July 23, 2023. [Read more]