We have so many artists' birthdays this week! Today is the day for Edgar Degas, one of the masters of French Impressionism, whose depictions of ballerinas became icons of Western art history.
In this pastel, Degas revisits a theme he had explored in the 1870s: ballerinas at rest. He also returns to his studies on the effects of contre-jour lighting, a photographic technique in which the camera points directly toward a source of light, which "reduces to silhouette," suppressing details and erasing distinctive features, rendering faces and bodies anonymous. While employing familiar techniques, Dancers stands out for its innovative size and composition, marking it as the best example of Degas' classical period.
Around 1884, Degas simplified his compositions, reduced the depth of his pictorial space, lowered the viewpoint for a more natural perspective, and focused on a single character or group of figures. He abandoned the caricatural approach of his earlier works, responding to critics and the public who opposed the "confused mass of colors and the jumble of indecipherable lines" in contemporary painting.
On the occasion of Degas's birthday, we have a special gift for you—a 25% discount on our online courses on Impressionism! 🎁 Enroll here if you would like to learn more about the French Impressionists and how they influenced other artists. :)
P.S. Have you seen all of the most beautiful ballerinas paintings by Degas? If yes, you'll probably be surprised that Degas was also a keen photographer. Take a look at Degas' rare photographs.