For artists like Degas and Renoir, pastel could be used quickly and without the fuss of wet paint that might take up to a year to dry. The artist could either spread the pastel in silk-thin layers or in dense, dynamic strokes of saturated color built up into thick crusts that rivaled the brushwork of an oil painting. Degas, Renoir, and Poetic Pastels will feature a selection of works from the Cincinnati Art Museum’s very strong permanent collection. From Alfred Sisley’s vibrant winter landscape to Degas’s poignant ballet dancers to Odilon Redon’s majestic flower still-life, this exhibition will highlight the bold achievements of French artists working with pastels in the second half of the nineteenth century. Not only will the works by these renowned artists be placed in their historical context, but issues of conservation and materials will be addressed.

Image: Edgar Degas (French, b.1834, d.1917); Dancer in her Dressing Room (danseuse dans sa loge) (detail); Circa 1879; Drawing, pastel and peinture à l’essence on canvas; Bequest of Mary Hanna; 1956.114