# Edgar Degas artist context and auction value notes

Canonical page: https://appraisily.com/artist/edgar-degas/
Profile generated: 2026-04-29T01:40:09.883Z
Quality: high confidence, strong sources

## Artist identity

- Birth date: 1834-07-19
- Death date: 1917-09-27
- Nationality: French
- Movements: Impressionism, Realism
- Common media: Oil painting, Pastel, Sculpture, Printmaking (lithography, etching, monotype), Drawing, Photography

## About Edgar Degas

Edgar Degas (1834–1917), born Hilaire-Germain-Edgar De Gas in Paris, was a French painter, sculptor, and draftsman identified with the Impressionist movement, though he often rejected the label and considered himself a Realist. A founding member of the group that organized the independent Impressionist exhibitions beginning in 1874, Degas contributed to seven of the eight shows. He is celebrated for his depictions of ballet dancers, horse racing, and intimate scenes of modern Parisian life. Degas worked across oil painting, pastel, sculpture, printmaking, and photography, pioneering innovative compositional approaches — cropped framing, unusual viewpoints, and a masterful use of pastel in layered, vibrant strokes. His sculpture 'Little Dancer of Fourteen Years' caused controversy at its 1881 debut for its realism and use of mixed materials. Major holdings of his work reside at the Musée d'Orsay, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Art Institute of Chicago, the National Gallery (London), MoMA, and the Tate.

## Common works and media

Collectors and appraisers most commonly encounter Degas works in oil on canvas or board, pastel on paper, charcoal and graphite drawings, bronze sculptures (including posthumous casts), lithographs, etchings, and monotypes. Ballet dancers — in rehearsal, on stage, and at rest — are the dominant subject across all media. Horse racing scenes, female bathers, portraits, and Parisian street scenes also appear frequently. Small-scale wax and plastiline sculptures were cast in bronze posthumously in authorized editions; these bronzes represent a large share of Degas works at auction.

## Market and appraisal context

Edgar Degas is one of the most liquid and broadly traded Impressionist artists at international auction, with 2,573 recorded lots and 1,662 priced results spanning 1991 to April 2025. The market is deep and stratified: original oil paintings and major pastels from the 1870s–1890s command the top tier, with the highest recorded price reaching $41.6 million. The median price of $9,450 and 75th percentile of $98,500 reflect that the bulk of traded material consists of works on paper, prints, and posthumous bronze casts. Recent 12-month activity shows 210 lots versus 285 in the prior period — a modest contraction in volume but consistent liquidity across price tiers. Named auction houses active in this market include Christie's, Sotheby's, Bonhams, Artcurial, HVMC (Monte-Carlo), Swann Auction Galleries, and multiple mid-tier and regional houses, confirming strong demand at every level. Ballet and dance subjects dominate recent results, followed by equestrian themes and posthumous bronze editions of the 'Petite Danseuse de quatorze ans' and related sculptures.

## Auction-house-backed market evidence

Edgar Degas is one of the most liquid and broadly traded Impressionist artists at international auction, with 2,573 recorded lots and 1,662 priced results spanning 1991 to April 2025. The market is deep and stratified: original oil paintings and major pastels from the 1870s–1890s command the top tier, with the highest recorded price reaching $41.6 million. The median price of $9,450 and 75th percentile of $98,500 reflect that the bulk of traded material consists of works on paper, prints, and posthumous bronze casts. Recent 12-month activity shows 210 lots versus 285 in the prior period — a modest contraction in volume but consistent liquidity across price tiers. Named auction houses active in this market include Christie's, Sotheby's, Bonhams, Artcurial, HVMC (Monte-Carlo), Swann Auction Galleries, and multiple mid-tier and regional houses, confirming strong demand at every level. Ballet and dance subjects dominate recent results, followed by equestrian themes and posthumous bronze editions of the 'Petite Danseuse de quatorze ans' and related sculptures.

### Appraisal notes

An Appraisily appraisal for a Degas work would combine these auction records with close physical examination of the piece. For oil paintings and pastels, the Lemoisne catalogue raisonné is the primary authenticity reference; for prints, the Sánchez & Seydoux catalogue; for bronzes, the Rewald catalogue. Key appraisal inputs include: photographs of the work front and back; exact dimensions; medium identification (oil, pastel, charcoal, lithograph, etching, monotype, bronze); signature presence and location; condition report with attention to light sensitivity for pastels and paper works; provenance history; and for bronzes, foundry mark, edition number, and Comité certification status. Comparable lots from the recent record set — filtered by medium, subject, size, date range, and condition — provide the strongest market evidence. The wide price dispersion ($4 to $41.6M) means that correct medium and attribution classification is the single most important step; a giclée reproduction ($15) and an original pastel ($160,000) may depict the same subject.

### Valuation factors

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### Collector notes

- Degas is a blue-chip Impressionist name with a deep, stratified auction market. If you own what you believe to be an original work, the first step is distinguishing it from the very large volume of reproductions, posthumous casts, and 'after' works that circulate in the market — recent results include giclée prints at $15 and stamped vintage prints at $30 alongside original drawings at $160,000. For bronzes, check for a foundry mark (typically Hébrard) and an edition number; uncertified casts should be treated with caution. Ballet subjects are the most liquid and widely traded, making them easier to value and resell. If you are considering a purchase, insist on condition reports for any work on paper and verify catalogue raisonné entries for paintings and pastels. The market shows healthy liquidity with 210 lots traded in the most recent 12 months, though volume has softened slightly from the prior year's 285 lots — this may reflect general Impressionist market cooling rather than Degas-specific weakness.

### Market caveats

- The auction-record data aggregates all lots attributed to Edgar Degas, including works listed as 'after,' 'd'après,' studio copies, giclée reproductions, and posthumous bronze casts. The $4–$41.6M price range reflects this full spectrum and should not be interpreted as the range for any single medium.
- Posthumous bronze casts were produced by the Hébrard foundry and others after Degas's death in 1917. Edition number, foundry stamp, and Comité certification must be verified for each cast. Not all bronze 'Degas' sculptures are authorized editions.
- Many works on paper exist as multiples (editioned prints) or preparatory studies; distinguishing unique works from prints requires catalogue raisonné consultation. Lots described as 'after' in recent results (e.g., 'Edgar Degas (after)') are reproductions, not original works.
- The slight decline in 12-month volume (210 vs. 285 lots) may reflect auction-cycle timing rather than a structural market shift; Impressionist art sales are heavily concentrated in major spring and fall auction seasons.
- Attribution and signature issues can arise with studio works and later re-strikes of prints. Some lots in the record may be attributed to Degas by the auction house but not accepted by the catalogue raisonné.

### Market evidence sources

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- undefined: https://www.invaluable.com/auction-lot-edgar-degas-etching-of-mary-cassatt-at-museum-10-625-x-9-125-inch-canceled-plate-french-impressionist-257-c-7a9f7d1f33
- undefined: https://www.invaluable.com/auction-lot-edgar-degas-1834-1917-d-apres-after-danseuse-a-la-barre-214-c-654bf6af5b
- undefined: https://www.invaluable.com/auction-lot-edgar-degas-1834-1917-d-apres-after-danseuse-au-tambourin-213-c-80896b60e5
- undefined: https://www.invaluable.com/auction-lot-edgar-degas-1834-1917-d-apres-after-la-petite-danseuse-de-quatorze-ans-ca-1990-61-c-cf48307039
- undefined: https://www.invaluable.com/auction-lot-bronze-sculpture-small-arabesque-after-edgar-degas-213-c-3324a479af
- undefined: https://www.invaluable.com/auction-lot-edgar-degas-horse-racing-stamped-vintage-print-1029-c-4312146f3f
- undefined: https://www.invaluable.com/auction-lot-edgar-degas-french-1834-1917-giclee-503-c-3e540cf9ff
- undefined: https://www.invaluable.com/auction-lot-edgar-degas-after-danseuse-au-tambourin-50-c-81246db852
- undefined: https://www.invaluable.com/auction-lot-edgar-degas-after-jeune-femme-en-costume-de-ville-1957-23-c-edd48dd835
- undefined: https://www.invaluable.com/auction-lot-edgar-degas-after-etude-de-danseuse-1957-22-c-5dc49af9ba
- undefined: https://www.invaluable.com/auction-lot-edgar-degas-1834-1917-335-c-46643629ec

## Appraisily data basis

Appraisily artist pages combine published artist identity research with auction records, auction-house context, sale dates, realized prices, and comparable lots when those records are available. This page draws on authority files from the Library of Congress, VIAF, Wikidata, and museum records from MoMA, Tate, and the RKD Netherlands Institute for Art History.

## Sources

- Library of Congress: https://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/n79022903
- RKD — Netherlands Institute for Art History: https://rkd.nl/en/explore/artists/21403
- Wikidata: https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q46373
- VIAF (OCLC): https://viaf.org/viaf/41863744/
- The Museum of Modern Art: https://www.moma.org/artists/1465
- Tate: https://www.tate.org.uk/art/artists/edgar-degas-988
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edgar_Degas