Unveiling 5 Lesser-Known Edgar Degas Paintings Beyond Ballerinas

1. The Bellelli Family

In his youth, Degas journeyed to Italy to refine his artistic skills. While in Florence, he crafted a family portrait of his aunt, Laure, who was wedded to an Italian baron, Bellelli. Together, they had two daughters, Giovanna and Guillia, aged 7 and 10 at the time of the portrait’s creation.

This absorbing—though somewhat suffocating—portrait features the mother standing confidently and solemnly, exuding authority while dressed in black in mourning for her father, whose portrait appears beside her. In contrast, the baron reclines in an armchair, observing his family with a relaxed posture, almost turning his back to the viewer.

The daughters embody a blend of their parents’ personalities. The elder closely resembles her mother, sitting upright with hands neatly on her lap, whereas the younger gazes outside the frame, her playful crossed legs highlighting her youth and innocence.

The overall ambiance of the painting conveys a sense of confinement and detachment. There is a palpable tension among the family members, each seemingly absorbed in their own thoughts. Degas further emphasizes this by manipulating perspective; an open door on the left hints at escape from this oppressive environment, and reflections in a mirror suggest an unreachable window with drawn curtains.

2. The Millinery Shop

Throughout the 1880s, Degas produced numerous drawings, pastels, and paintings focusing on the theme of millinery. This particular piece is the largest, showcasing a young woman either admiring or engaged with a hat. Degas intentionally leaves her identity a mystery. Is she a customer, or perhaps she is the shop assistant? A closer look reveals a pin in her mouth and gloved hands, indicating she might be working on the hat rather than merely admiring it. Nearby, a still life of vibrant hats adorns the scene.

The painting’s remarkable perspective and composition capture the viewer’s attention. Viewed from above, the angle suggests the perspective of an observer standing nearby, while the girl remains oblivious to her watcher, entirely absorbed in her task.

3. A Cotton Office in New Orleans

Degas stands out as the only French Impressionist painter to venture to the United States and create works there. In 1873, he visited family in America, and the artwork Cotton Office emerged from his stay. The piece depicts the interior of his uncle’s cotton company in New Orleans, featuring his uncle, brothers, and several employees engaged in work or taking a moment’s respite. Notice the raw cotton on the table in the background.

In correspondence with friends back in France, Degas expressed frustration over being unable to paint family portraits during his visit. Nevertheless, the cotton office serves as an informal family portrait, depicting the men in his family.

Some art critics have suggested that the painting alludes to the life cycle of cotton. The raw cotton is displayed prominently on the table, while the crisp white shirts worn by the men symbolize the cotton textile. Additionally, a painting of a steamship in the corner hints at how cotton was transported globally.

4. At the Races in the Countryside

In this artwork, Degas captures a slice of contemporary life. Though the title suggests a focus on the races, they are scarcely visible in the background. The foreground features an affluent family in a horse-drawn carriage, where the races fade from their attention. It’s remarkable that even the dog is preoccupied with a small child: the father, the mother holding a parasol, and a wet nurse ready to feed the baby. Elements of wealth and social status radiate from their garments, the pet, and the luxury of hiring help.

Interestingly, there is a stark contrast between the two women. The upper-class mother is fully clothed, shielding her skin from the sun with a parasol, while the working-class wet nurse, partially exposed, tends to the child in public—an uncommon sight for that era.

Through clever cropping techniques, Degas creates an impression akin to a photograph, cutting off parts of the carriage wheels and horse legs. This aspect aligns with the rise of photography during that time, a new medium that influenced Impressionists as they sought to capture transient moments of life.

5. Visit to a Museum

This piece presents a contemporary museum scene featuring two women captivated by gilded-framed paintings. One woman is seated, referencing a guidebook while observing the artwork, while the other stands, hand on her hip, lost in her contemplation of the pieces. The models for this painting include Mary Cassatt and her sister. Cassatt, an artist and crucial member of the Impressionist movement, shared a close friendship with Degas.

Degas adeptly illustrates a truth familiar to every art lover: visiting a museum is both exhilarating and draining. Although the women are immersed in enjoyment, their postures reveal a hint of fatigue. The dynamic movement of their bodies takes center stage in this artwork. Notably, Degas intentionally blurs the paintings that the women admire, suggesting that what’s essential is not the art itself, but their responses and experiences during their visit.