Three Dancers
1896
Degas wasn't interested in the polished perfection of the stage; he wanted the sweat and strain behind the curtain. Here, three ballerinas are caught in a tangle of limbs, adjusting their costumes or perhaps just stretching after a grueling rehearsal. By 1896, Degas's eyesight was failing, leading him to embrace bold, scratchy pastel strokes that make the figures look like they're vibrating with energy. It’s a raw snapshot of the exhausting reality of ballet, far removed from the graceful smiles audiences usually saw.
- Technique
- Pastel
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