Dancer Standing, in Profile
circa 1880-1885
Degas wasn't interested in the glamorous finale; he wanted the backstage reality of the ballet world. Here, a ballerina stands in profile, caught in a candid moment of adjusting her tutu or perhaps just catching her breath. The sketchy, energetic lines give her a sense of vibration, as if she might step right off the page. Although associated with Impressionism, Degas preferred to call himself a Realist, and you can see why—he strips away the romance to show the hard work of these 'human machines,' signing his name in red at the bottom left.
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