How did Edgar Degas use photography in planning his compositions?

Edgar Degas was heavily influenced by photography, which played a significant role in his departure from traditional compositional rules. Rather than using the medium to create literal reproductions, he utilized the aesthetic possibilities of the camera to inform his own innovative approach to painting.12

Degas’s compositions often mimic the spontaneous, "snapshot" quality of a photograph, characterized by:

• "Cut-off" Compositions: Influenced by both photography and Japanese prints, Degas frequently cropped his subjects at the edge of the frame, creating a sense of immediacy and informality.12
• Unconventional Perspectives: He moved away from centered, balanced arrangements, instead using dynamic angles and off-center groupings to draw the viewer’s eye into the scene, such as the receding floor planks in his ballet works.12
• Meticulous Planning: Despite their candid appearance, his works were not accidental. Degas prepared assiduously by making numerous drawings of his subjects in his studio, carefully constructing these "snapshot" effects to give a new status to everyday life.12

By integrating these photographic sensibilities with his skills as a draftsman, Degas effectively bridged the gap between traditional academic art and modern, radical movements.31