Dancer
circa 1880
Degas was obsessed with capturing the unglamorous, behind-the-scenes reality of ballet dancers, and this sketch is a perfect example. Instead of a poised pose on stage, we see a dancer from a dizzying top-down angle, bending over so far her head disappears into her tutu. The scribbled note 'jambes plus écartées' (legs more apart) in the corner reveals this was a working study, showing the artist pushing his subject to find the perfect, dynamic line. It’s a raw, energetic glimpse into the artist's creative process, far removed from the polished final paintings.
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