The much-celebrated academic ideals of historical and mythical subjects were rejected by him and took inspiration from modern day life.
This impressionist painter's work mostly consisted of slices of the Parisian life. His main subjects were human figures, particularly female bodies. It was the academic training that invoked an interest for figures in Degas. He did not like to be called an impressionist but preferred to be referred to as independent. Dancers, singers, prostitutes, all made up Degas work and he was keen to painting them in innovative ways. He painted them unusual angles under artificial light with strange postures. The much-celebrated academic ideals of historical and mythical subjects were rejected by him and took inspiration from modern day life. Many critics during the impressionist era were in complete disapproval of the lower-class subjects used by Degas in his paintings. Some of the important works of Edgar Degas are The Bellelli Family, Monsieur and Madame Édouard Manet, Foyer de la Danse, Le Foyer de la danse, and Prima Ballerina.