Degas

Book by Guillaud, Ed

The Guillauds' exhibition catalog contains essays by various scholars on Degas as an artist, his sculpture, the monotypes, and the conservation of Degas's pastels, among other topics. A special feature of the book is the reproduction of Degas's Notebook 18. However, there is not a complete catalog of the works in the exhibition and many works referred to are not illustrated, thus limiting the book's usefulness. The "form and space" of the title seems to have more to do with the innovative design of the book itself than with Degas' use of themalthough the small square size and cropped and fragmented reproductions curiously emphasize Degas' revolutionary compositional techniques. His notes on colors are juxtaposed to images and form unique free verse poems of commentary. Adriani concentrates on the artist as a draughtsman, revealing his thoughts and goals through extensive use of Degas's notes and letters. The essay is divided by chronological periods corresponding to Degas's stylistic changes and subject interests. It focuses on the drawings as they support Degas's artistic intentions and experimentations. An excellent catalog follows the beautiful plates and related works are reproduced for comparison. Notes on each plate provide further information and quotations. Both of these books contain well-researched essays and, while neither breaks new ground, each has flashes of insight into the now all-too-familiar art of Degas. Both books are flawed by typographical errors, the first disturbingly so. The larger format of the Adriani book produces more satisfactory images for study and the scholarly catalog makes it more useful for research for libraries needing additional material on Degas. Lynell A. Morr, John & Mable Ringling Museum of Art Lib., Sarasota, Fla.
Copyright 1986 Reed Business Information, Inc.