Degas, Painter of Ballerinas: A Picture Book - Hardcover

Rubin, Susan Goldman

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1419728431 ISBN 13: 9781419728433

Publisher: Abrams Books for Young Readers, 2019

Synopsis

Through Edgar Degas’s beloved paintings, drawings, and sculptures, award-winning author Susan Goldman Rubin—in collaboration with The Metropolitan Museum of Art—conveys the wonder and excitement of the ballet world.
 
Degas is one of the most celebrated painters of the impressionist movement, and his ballerina paintings are among the most favorite of his fans. In his artwork, Degas captures every moment, from the relentless hours of practice to the glamour of appearing on stage, revealing a dancer’s journey from novice to prima ballerina. Observing young students, Degas drew their poses again and again, determined to achieve perfection.
 
The book includes a brief biography of his entire life, endnotes, bibliography, where to see his paintings, and an index.
 
“A beautiful, engaging, and informative book . . . it’s hard to find fault with this enchanting book. It’s the perfect gift for aspiring artists and dancers.” —New York Journal of Books
 

About this title

About the Author

Susan Goldman Rubin is the award-winning author of many biographies for young people, including Coco Chanel, Diego Rivera, and Hot Pink. She lives in Malibu, California.
 
The Metropolitan Museum of Art is the largest museum in the Western Hemisphere and the world’s most encyclopedic art museum.
 

Reviews

Gr 4-7-Edgar Degas (1834-1917), a towering figure of French Impressionism, is best known for his closely observed, behind-the-scenes paintings, drawings, and sculptures of Paris Opera ballerinas in classes, rehearsals, and performances. In this handsomely designed book, prepared in collaboration with the Metropolitan Museum of Art (which holds all but two of the volume's marvelously reproduced artworks), Rubin uses clear, economical, graceful prose to describe the perfectionist master's life and career, artistic techniques and media, and painstaking approach to craft. Through narrative and art, readers meet some of his models and sympathize with aspiring young dancers coping with exhausting daily practice. Students also learn that Degas struggled for years with failing eyesight, which was the eventual impetus for his venturing into sculpture. Numerous quotes by and about Degas, and informative captions further enhance this title's portrait of both the artist and his prolific output. Ballet students and non-dancers alike will appreciate the liberal use (and definitions, via text, art, and glossary) of terminology. Elegant design flourishes include a pink-ribbon-like covering of the book's spine and illustrations throughout of toe shoe-like laces in many of the pages' margins. The excellent back matter includes notes, glossary, ballet terms, a list of where to view Degas artworks, and bibliography. VERDICT This title is highly recommended for public and school libraries. Useful for report writers, in art history units, and as supplementary fare for dance students and those preparing to attend a ballet recital and/or a Degas museum exhibit.-Carol Goldman, formerly at Queens Library, NYα(c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Edition details

• Publisher: Abrams Books for Young Readers
• Publication date: 2019
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1419728431
• ISBN 13: 9781419728433
• Binding: Hardcover
• Illustrator: Metropolitan Museum Of Art The
• Number of pages: 64