Dancer Seen from Behind and Three Studies of Feet

Edgar Degas, c. 1878

This artwork features a dancer viewed from behind, occupying the left side of the composition. The dancer is seated, with her upper back and shoulders visible. Her hair is styled up, and she wears a ballet dress with a tulle skirt and a prominent bow at the back. The dress is rendered with soft, sketchy lines. On the right side of the artwork, there are three studies of feet in ballet positions, each drawn with attention to the contours and shading of the ballet shoes. The background is a muted, textured surface. The artwork is done in a combination of line drawing and soft shading, primarily using pastel tones.
Artist
Edgar Degas
Date
c. 1878
Type
Drawing
Medium
black chalk and pastel on blue-gray laid paper
Dimensions
45.6 × 59.8 cm
Collection
National Gallery of Art, Washington
Licence
Public domain, CC0

Image description

This artwork features a dancer viewed from behind, occupying the left side of the composition. The dancer is seated, with her upper back and shoulders visible. Her hair is styled up, and she wears a ballet dress with a tulle skirt and a prominent bow at the back. The dress is rendered with soft, sketchy lines. On the right side of the artwork, there are three studies of feet in ballet positions, each drawn with attention to the contours and shading of the ballet shoes. The background is a muted, textured surface. The artwork is done in a combination of line drawing and soft shading, primarily using pastel tones.

Edgar Degas