Degas In New Orleans /continued

Degas House in New Orleans


A description of Degas stay in New Orleans from Benfey's book Degas in New Orleans

"Despite the brevity of his stay, however, Degas wasn't simply painting family portraits, like an itinerant painter making his New Orleans stop. He was also painting a society, and specifically the decimated Creole world of post-Civil War New Orleans. This self-styled aristocracy, always scornful of modern business practices, had already, before the war, financially lost out to the "American invasion" that followed the Louisiana Purchase of 1803, and statehood nine years later. While Creoles lamented the infusion of English-speaking "foreigners," New Orleans was quickly transformed into the major city of the South, and a port city that rivaled New York in the sheer volume of its trade."


New Orleans is a wonderful mysterious remarkable city that is rich in history, culture, art and food.  It has drawn many an artist, writer, and musician to its charms.  It is an enigmatic city full of life in all its diversities...joy, desire, sadness, challenge, excitement, freedom, poverty, and wealth. Degas's world changed during the time he spent in New Orleans.  His art career was faltering in Europe, but after his stay in New Orleans he returned with new found vigor and creativity...his career then took off and he became the French Master Impressionist we all know.