Degas in New Orleans: A Creole Sojourn

In 1872, Edgar Degas visited his maternal Creole family, the Mussons, at their home in New Orleans, in what was to prove a pivotal moment in his career. Although he had painted ballerinas and the races, he was not well known and had never shown in a commercial gallery. In the family portraiture and paintings of cotton merchants accomplished during this brief five-month period in New Orleans, Degas defined his style and returned to Paris, where he joined with his colleagues to present the first Impressionist show. Filmed at the renamed Degas House in New Orleans and featuring the comments of family members, historians and curators, this beautiful program provides insight into the artist, his work and the little-known sojourn that resulted in the flowering of the Impressionist movement. Highly recommended. Aud: H, C, P. (J. Reed)