The Laundresses
1879–80
Edgar Degas
(French, 1834–1917)
France, 19th century
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Nineteenth-Century French Drawings at the Cleveland Museum of Art
By Britany Salsbury, Associate Curator of Prints and Drawings, The Cleveland Museum of Art. Drawing transformed radically in 19th-century France, expanding from a means of artistic training to an independent medium with rich potential for exploration and experimentation. A variety of materials became available to artists—such as commercially fabricated chalks, pastels, and specialty papers— encouraging figures ranging from Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres to Paul Cezanne to reconsider the place of drawing within their artistic practices. A growing number of public and private exhibition venues began to feature their creations, building an audience attracted by the intimacy of drawings and their unique techniques and subjects. In France and abroad, museums and individuals alike started to actively acquire these works while they were still contemporary art. Nineteenth-Century French Drawings at the Cleveland Museum of Art examines the history of this medium, from preparatory graphite sketches to pastels finished for public display. The publication chronicles the remarkable role that drawings—a cornerstone of the museum’s collection since its opening in 1916—have played throughout the institution’s history. Entries provide insight into nearly 50 artists and the place of drawing within their work, while five essays by leading scholars in the field present new research on the making and collecting of drawings in France during this extraordinary period. Published 2023200 pages with 148 imagesDegas and the Laundress: Women, Work, and Impressionism
by Britany Salsbury, Associate Curator of Prints and Drawings, The Cleveland Museum of Art, with contributions from Richard Thomson, Professor in History of Art, History of Art, Edinburgh College of Art, Aleksandra Bursac, PhD Candidate, University of Toronto, Claire White, Fellow, Director Studies, Girton College, Cambridge, and Gretchen Schultz, Professor, French and Francophone Studies, Brown University Degas and the Laundress: Women, Work, and Impressionism is the first publication to explore Impressionist artist Edgar Degas’s representations of Parisian laundresses. These working-class women were a visible presence in the city, while washing, ironing, or carrying heavy baskets of clothing. Their job was among the most difficult, dangerous, and poorly paid at the time, forcing some to supplement their income through prostitution. The industry fascinated Degas throughout his long career, beginning in the 1850s and continuing until his final decade of work. The artworks from this series—revolutionary in their emphasis on women’s work, the strenuousness of such labor, and social class—were featured in Degas’s most significant exhibitions and praised by critics as epitomizing modernity. This richly illustrated publication accompanies an exhibition that contextualizes Degas’s series with paintings, drawings, and prints by his contemporaries—including Gustave Caillebotte, Berthe Morisot, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, and Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec—as well as artists that he influenced and was influenced by, from Honoré Daumier to Pablo Picasso. Essays by an interdisciplinary range of scholars of art history, literature, and history examine major themes from the exhibition, revealing the widespread interest that Parisians of all social classes had in the topic of laundresses during the late nineteenth century. 242 pagesOctober 2023Art: The Definitive Visual History
by Andrew Graham Dixon Discover more than 2,500 of the world’s most influential paintings and sculptures in this beautifully- illustrated guide to the history of art. Introducing Art: The Definitive Visual Guide – an invaluable reference book that spans 30,000 years of global art history, from cave paintings to contemporary art, and showcases the works of over 700 artists in striking detail to truly bring the artwork to life. Each artistic movement, from the Italian Renaissance to Impressionism to Graffiti Art, is explained in clear detail with descriptions of their origins and influences, characteristic styles and techniques, and typical subjects.A visual timeline of key works gives an overview of the scope of each major movement, while graphics, overlays, and detailed close-ups, show readers how to "read" composition and subject matter, and explain the specifics of the techniques and methods the artist used to create their masterpieces.Explore the pages of this awe-inspiring art history book to discover: - Over 2500 of the world’s most influential paintings and sculptures- Features stunning artwork from more than 700 artists- ‘Closer Look’ sections offer a detailed analysis of key paintings The 6 core chapters are structured chronologically, starting with prehistoric art and ancient civilizations, right the way up until modern-day artwork, so there’s something for everyone to explore, learn and love. From Romanticism in the 19th Century to Realism in the 20th Century, whether it’s Pop Art or Expressionism, Minimalism and so much more – the beautiful full-color illustrations and striking imagery, make this art book the perfect gift for the art and history lover in your life, as well as an ideal coffee table book.Doubling up as a riveting reference book for anyone with an interest in art history who wants to gain a broader knowledge of the subject, as well as the perfect classroom companion in schools, libraries and more. Created in collaboration with Bridgeman, the biggest art library in the world, Art: The Definitive Visual Guide is a must-have for your bookshelf. 612 pages, Hardcover Published 2018Treasures from the Cleveland Museum of Art
Forward by David Franklin Introduction by C. Griffith Mann with contributions by Curators and Associate Curators of the Cleveland Museum Staff The Cleveland Museum of Art is renowned for the quality and breadth of its collection, which includes more than 40,000 objects and spans 6,000 years of achievement in the arts. Published to celebrate the closing stages of a long-term renovation and expansion, this exquisitely illustrated volume features treasures from the museum's deep and wide-reaching collection including Asian Art, African Art, American Painting and Sculpture, European Painting and Sculpture, Medieval Art, Ancient Egyptian Art, Ancient Near East and Greek and Roman Art, Islamic Art, Art of the Ancient Americas, Drawings, Prints, Photography, Decorative Art and Design, Textiles, Modern Art, and Contemporary Art. 352 pages Published 2012Contact us
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