Frieze of Dancers by Degas

This panoramic work by Degas Edgar, temporarily entitled “Frieze of Dancers”, illustrates the innovative genius of the artist and his belonging to the realist and impressionist movement. The painter moves away from academic scenes to capture the intimacy and hidden effort behind the beauty of ballets. This bold horizontal framing, almost photographic, allows the decomposition of the ballerinas’ movement during a moment of rest and preparation backstage.

The lengthwise composition presents a rhythmic sequence of four ballerinas dressed in white tutus and delicate bodices tinged with pale green. They are all bent forward, seated or deeply leaning on the floor to meticulously adjust their small pink ballet slippers. Their faces are completely concealed by their flexed postures, emphasizing the natural curvature of their delicate backs and their bright red hair. In the background, a blurred wall in neutral, earthy and ochre brown shades creates an intimate and muffled atmosphere, while an empty dark wooden chair placed on the far right elegantly closes the silent space of this rehearsal.

The artist’s masterly technique is revealed in the vaporeux rendering of the tulle tutus and the vigorous drawing of the contours. By using juxtaposed touches of color, the painter manages to suggest the rustling of fabrics and to capture muscular tension with remarkable naturalness and plastic freedom.