Degas Rare 1937 New York Durand-Ruel Exhibition Program

Description

Exhibition of Masterpieces by Degas From March 22nd, 1937 to April 19th, 1937 for the Benefit of the Public Education Association. Durand-Ruel Galleries. New York City. 1937. Limited edition, hand numbered 547 of 2000.

A well-preserved copy of the limited edition program issued by the New York branch of Durand-Ruel Galleries for their 1937 show of works by Edgar Degas.

Durand-Ruel Galleries, located on E 57th Street in Manhattan, was the New York outpost for Paul Durand-Ruel, the French art dealer and enthusiast of Impressionism, who opened an American branch of his family’s Parisian art gallery in the city in 1887. Open until 1950 in New York and in Paris until 1974, the Durand-Ruel Galleries were instrumental in presenting French art to the world at the turn of the 20th century, with Paul Durand-Ruel noted for his early support of then-contemporary artists like Monet, Renoir, and Pissarro. Although both Degas and Durand-Ruel had died (in 1917 and 1922, respectively) by the time of this 1937 exhibition it is believed that Durand-Ruel purchased up to 400 of the artists works in his own lifetime with he and his sons becoming instrumental in the first collecting boom of the artist’s work. Interestingly, Degas, most famous for his pastel portraits of dancers, was the only member of the Impressionist school to visit America in life, spending part of 1872 with family in New Orleans.

4to, [22]pp, saddle stitch bound pamphlet. Parchment wrap with deckled edges. Some sunning to front wrap edges and wear to lower wrap edge with tears to front and creasing along back. Small bruise to top front wrap. Wear to lower front binding hole with partial split to front wrap. Pages clean. Hand numbered #542 of 2000. Good condition.

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