Degas

Name: Degas
Description: Edgar Degas’s early life was shaped by the tension between artistic ambition and family expectation. Born in Paris, he was raised between France and Italy, pressured by his father, a wealthy banker, to pursue law and support the global family business. After the death of his mother, Celestine Musson de Gas—originally from New Orleans—Degas became the eldest caretaker of five children. His close bond with his American cousins, Estelle and Desiree, brought stories of New Orleans’s rich cultural legacy, further fueling his creative vision. In 1872, Degas traveled to New Orleans at his father’s urging, only to find the Musson family ruined by the Civil War. Deeply affected by their decline and the collapse of their cotton empire, he returned to Paris with renewed determination. This journey marked a turning point in his life, catalyzing his artistic transformation and propelling him to become a founder of the Impressionist movement.
Genre: Feature Film
Date Created: October 2026
Producer: Anne Pincus
Writer/Producer: Carol Bidault De L’isle – Rory Schmitt – Rosary O’Neill
Content: SEREIN PRODUCTIONS
55 Blvd Pereire, 75017 Paris, France cbidault@sereinprods.com
PHONE: +33 0686483613
STATUS: October 2026 LOCATION: Paris – Italy – New Orleans

Degas: A Tale of Artistic Awakening and Cultural Legacy

Delve into the captivating narrative of “Degas,” a feature film production by SEREIN PRODUCTIONS that explores the early life of renowned artist Edgar Degas. Set against the backdrop of Paris, Italy, and New Orleans, this film delves into the tension between artistic ambition and familial obligations that shaped Degas’ journey.

Producer Anne Pincus and writers/producers Carol Bidault De L’isle, Rory Schmitt, and Rosary O’Neill bring to life the poignant story of Degas’s transformation following a pivotal trip to New Orleans. Discover how his encounters with the Musson family’s decline during the aftermath of the Civil War ignited his artistic vision and propelled him towards becoming a trailblazing figure in the Impressionist movement.