Edgar Degas (1834-1917). French painter and sculptor. He is considered one of the founders of Impressionism, although he called himself a realist. As an 1870s painter associated with dance, over half his works are devoted to depicting ballerinas, ballet performances and practices. His portrayal of motion is one of the most perfect seen. He also devoted himself to portraiture, and his portraits and nudes are among the most admired in history.