Degas & Cassatt: A Solitary Dance

Spanish cartoonists Salva and Efa follow up Monet with a stylish and stylized chronicle of the life of French impressionist painter Edgar Degas (1834–1917). Early in the narrative, Degas dedicates his fiery temper to discovering an aesthetic that stands out from both the radical bohemian style of Monet and Renoir and the canonical exclusivity of the elitist salon that rules the Paris art world. He sets his heart on becoming a master painter (“my goal, my destiny, my obsession”)—claiming he’ll burn bridges (and the Louvre) in pursuit of a fresh vision. Eventually, he finds his muse watching young ballerinas perform. From there, Degas commits to “painting men in the honesty of their true nature.” He loves the American painter Mary Cassatt, yet never pursues her romantically, only opining on her art. Misogynist, curmudgeonly, and at times cruel, Degas dons a mask to visit brothels and take in the female form, then runs out. He fights for the independence of impressionists (“Death to the salon!”)—then turns his back on them after gaining fame. Salva and Efa lend nuance to what might have been a stereotypical portrayal of a tortured genius with asides from Cassatt, who expresses her empathetic perspective on a “man defined by his loneliness.” The small-stroke composition of the comics creates an intimate dual portrait of artists dueling with their own demons. This clear-eyed and holistic vision of a leading light of impressionism should appeal to art history buffs. (Mar.)