It is all very well to copy what one sees, but it is far better to draw what one now only sees in one's memory. That is a transformation in which imagination collaborates with memory.

He was also a collector of Japanese prints whose compositional principles influenced his work as did the vigorous realism of popular illustrators such as Daumier and Gavarni. Recognized as an important artist in his lifetime Degas is now considered "one of the founders of Impressionism". Degas began to paint early in life.

He is especially identified with the subject of dance; more than half of his works depict dancers. Edgar Degas (US /deɪˈɡɑː/ or UK /ˈdeɪɡɑː/; French: [ilɛʁ ʒɛʁmɛ̃ ɛdɡɑʁ dəɡɑ]; born Hilaire-Germain-Edgar De Gas 19 July 1834 – 27 September 1917) was a French artist famous for his paintings sculptures prints and drawings. His portraits are notable for their psychological complexity and for their portrayal of human isolation.