Oil Paintings Reproductions

About The Artist - Edgar Degas (19 July 1834 - 27 September 1917)

Edgar Degas, born Hilaire-Germain-Edgar Degas, was a French artist and founding member of the Impressionism; he is famous for his paintings, sculptures, drawings, and printmaking.

About The Painting - The Dance Class

The Dance Class made its debut in the second Impressionist exhibition held in 1867. Degas is famous for the recurring theme of ballet and women in his work.

The subject of the Dance Class is a ballet dance class conducted by the renowned ballet master Jules Perrot. Considered a tribute to Perrot, the composition is carefully arranged with a random collection of different ballet poses and postures.

The primary focus of this painting is a ballerina who is dances in the middle as others move around her, perhaps waiting for their turn. The dancers are shown conducting various activities such as adjusting their costumes, standing, sitting, or practicing. The background consists of women who appear to be mothers, or chaperons accompanying their young charges for rehearsals.

Much like the other ballet theme painting by Degas, the ballerinas are non-performers in The Dance Class. Set in the unglamorous atmosphere of a dance practice hall, is interesting for its detailing and simplicity of theme.

A marvelous composition on the whole, the fluidity of the subject is undeniably attractive. The eye of the viewer is invariably drawn from the music stand in the immediate foreground to the dancer behind and follows the background to finally capture the image in a 360 degree view after taking in all the minutest of details such as the cello, the cropped ceiling and moldings, the reflections in the mirror, the locket around the young dancer neck, the ribbon in the central figure's hair etc.

The Dance Class is a fine example of Edgar Degas' mastery over the medium of oil paint.