Edgar DegasEdgar Degas was a French artist, some would call him the expert in drawing the human figure in motion. He was known as an impressionist, and was different from all other artists of his genre. Edgar Degas was a person who, at certain times, brazenly challenged common social decorum and practice. Although he could be the kindest person, he sometimes flew into a rage at social gatherings, becoming hostile to people who disagreed with his ways and opinions. Edgar Degas was born on July 19, 1834 in Saint-Georges in Paris. His father was a French banker and his mother was an American from New Orleans. While Degas was growing up his idol was the painter. He began his artistic studies with Louis Lamothes, a student of Ingres. After studying there he moved on and began courses at the Ecole des Beaux Arts. In 1854 he left and went to Italy. For 5 years he stayed there and studied Italian art, mainly operas. Edgar Degas was known as an impressionist. The Impressionists were artists who exhibited their artwork in independent exhibitions from 1874 to 1886. What united the group was a common desire to create an open forum in which artists could showcase their work. The word "impressionist" was coined by the critic Louis Leroy after seeing the paintings at the first exhibition of the Impressionists in April 1874. The name Leroy gave to his article in the French periodical was Charivari "Exhibition of the Impressionists" and sarcastically protected the new style of painting that ignored details, exposed brushstrokes, and showcased unmixed colors next to each other. Just like most of the French public, Leroy did not consider the works of Claude Monet, Berthe Morisot, Pierre-Auguste Renoir and Edgar as works of art that deserved serious attention. In 1859 he returned to Paris. There he painted portraits of family and friends and many historical subjects, using both classical and romantic styles. In the late 1860s he moved on to contemporary themes, painting both theatrical scenes and portraits with great emphasis on the social and intellectual implications of props and setting. . Around 1868 Degas began to gain recognition as an artist. During the early 1870s, the woman became Degas's favorite theme. In his studio he drew from a live model and put poses together in groups that illustrated rehearsal and performance scenes. In 1872 he visited some of his relatives in Louisiana. He painted The Cotton Exchange in New Orleans, which is his only painting acquired by a museum during his lifetime..