July 19

July 19 is the birthday of Edgar Degas, French artist regarded as one of the founders of Impressionism. He rejected the term and preferred to be called a realist. Degas is especially identified with the subject of the dance, and more than half of his works depict dancers. He always painted indoors, preferring to work in his studio, either from memory, photographs or live models, and belittled the Impressionists’ practice of painting en plein air. Pictured: “Ballet Rehearsal” (1873-78).