How did camera close-ups and unusual viewpoints influence Edgar Degas and other painters?

Edgar Degas and other Impressionist painters were significantly influenced by photography and a desire to overturn traditional compositional rules. These influences encouraged artists to move away from the contrived, balanced arrangements typical of academic art in favor of more casual, spontaneous-looking compositions that captured contemporary life.123

Key impacts of these influences include:

• "Cut-off" Compositions: Inspired by both photography and Japanese prints, Degas frequently utilized compositions where subjects are cropped at the edge of the frame. This technique creates the effect of a "through-the-keyhole" glimpse or an unposed, candid moment.12
• Snapshot Aesthetic: By adopting unusual viewpoints and framing, painters made their works appear like spontaneous snapshots. Despite this casual appearance, these works were often meticulously planned to guide the viewer’s eye through the scene, such as using receding floor planks to create depth.12
• Departure from Tradition: These techniques allowed artists to break from the requirement of high-finish, allegorical, or historical subjects, instead giving new status to everyday scenes and the transient effects of modern life.123

Through these innovations, Degas and his contemporaries bridged the gap between traditional art and the radical movements of the 20th century.4