Edgar Degas

FRANCE (1834–1917) Letter from Edgar Degas to Walter Sickert (the English painter) dated November 25, 1899. Degas is regarded as one of the founders of Impressionism. For all the stylistic evolution, certain features of Degas's work remained the same throughout his life. He always painted indoors, preferring to work in his studio from memory, photographs, or live models. In the late 1880s, Degas also developed a passion for photography. He photographed many of his friends, often by lamplight. Other photographs, depicting dancers and nudes, were used for reference in some of Degas's drawings, and paintings. In 1883, the German-born British painter and printmaker, Walter Sickert, travelled to Paris and met Degas, whose use of pictorial space and emphasis on drawing would have a powerful effect on Sickert's work. Degas provided the counterweight to Whistler, and one which was eventually to prove the more significant for Sickert's development. Following Degas' advice, Sickert painted in the studio, working from drawings and memory as an escape from "the tyranny of nature". The letter reads: Samedi Merci, mon cher Sickert, Mais dites moi d'ou vous tenez cette photographie, ou est la dessin, i'il y aurant moyen de j'er esuparen etc, Un homme tres excite Degas Saturday Thank you, my dear Sickert, But tell me where you got this photograph, where is the drawing, if there is a way to get it etc, A very excited man Degas Postcard dated Saturday, November 25, 1899. Mailed to Sickert in Dieppe from Paris . Signed Degas. 4 x 8 in. (10.16 x 20.32 cm.) PRICE AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST