French impressionist painter/sculptor Edgar Degas would be 173 years old today—imagine all the other great works he could’ve put out into the world with another 90 years to spare (he died at 83). For a little inspiration today, tour The National Gallery of Art’s online feature on some of his dancer paintings.

For those of you itching to get your hands on our December issue, in which we publish the Greatest Pastels of All Time feature, rest assured that Degas will be in there—how could he not?

“Art is not what you see, but what you make others see.” —Edgar Degas