The Rehearsal of the Ballet Onstage, and Édouard Manet, Seated, Holding His Hat, Edgar Degas

Degas was restless experimenter. In his depiction of a ballet rehearsal (for which Degas himself “rehearsed” with a number of preparatory drawings, and finished in three different versions) he is experimenting both with composition, as he frequently did, and with his materials — working over a pen and ink drawing on paper with thinned oil paint, pastel and a little bit of watercolor.

I love the depth he has given his composition, leading the eye from the back of the stage set through the groups of dancers and out to the tops of the cellos in the foreground, over which we are viewing the scene.

Though he is known primarily for his drawings in pastel, Degas’ graphite drawings are marvels of sensitive draftsmanship. His seemingly casual portrait of fellow artist Édouard Manet is one of my favorites.

Both works are in the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Click the “Fullscreeen” link and then use th ezoom controls or download arrow for high resolution versions.

Today is Degas’ birthday.

Classical Landscape, Isaac de Moucheron

In the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Click “Fullscreen” and then zoom or download arrow.

A beautiful drawing in the grand tradition of 17th century Dutch landscapes in pen and ink with washes. In this case, the artist has combined two ink colors, brown and gray-brown. The original measures roughly 7×12 inches (17.5×28.7cm).

De Moucheron combines precise draftsmanship and fluid, gestural pen marks with astonishing ease. He uses his washes to great effect in preserving the economy of line.

I love the raking light across the terrace walls, the depth achieved with both linear and atmospheric perspective, and the wonderful textural qualities his pen lines give the foliage.

How casual he makes it seem!