This colloquium examines critical aspects of the life and work of Edgar Degas (1834-1917) with special attention paid to important recent scholarship and exhibitions devoted to the artist. Long embraced as a radical innovator and modernist visionary, Degas poses challenges to the heroic narratives of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist art. How have Degas's ties to art's 'past' featured in accounts that stress his modernity, the novelty of his vision, and the innovations of his artistic practice? Key issues for investigation will include: Degas's relationship to the female nude, his art collection, his relationship to reproductive technologies of printmaking and photography, his "scientific" vision, and his study of the body in motion.