Nude from the Rear, Reading

Edgar Degas (French, 1834-1917): Nude from the Rear, Reading, c.1880-85 (Pastel, Private Collection) – His paintings were exhibited at the Paris Salon beginning in 1865, but they attracted little attention, and his subject matter slowly transitioned from history paintings to more contemporary subjects… Although he is considered one of the founders of Impressionism, and he indeed worked with impressionist artists, such as Edouard Manet and Pierre-Auguste Renoir, he rejected the label “Impressionist.” He detested the scandals brought about by their Impressionist Exhibitions, and he mocked them for painting outdoors…