![]() Many believe that Degas depicted the power dynamics between powerful men and working-class women, a theme common in many of his other works. In center stage, the lightly colored, powdery dancers rehearse their performance, while the dark figures in black watch and control the performance. The Rehearsal of the Ballet Onstage by Edgar Degas portrays a dress rehearsal at the Paris Opera Ballet. The Rehearsal of the Ballet Onstage, 1874: Light & Dark at Play The Rehearsal of the Ballet Onstage by Edgar Degas, 1874, via the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York Though Degas makes sure to capture the distraction of the man, he also chooses to highlight the spectacle of the dancers on stage in bright white flowing blurs, creating a distinct contrast.ģ. Unfortunately, the choreography for “Ballet of the Nuns” is lost forever, making this painting a relic of ballet history.Īt the time Edgar Degas painted this, the popularity of this opera had started to decline maybe for this very reason, the man in the center is looking around through his opera glasses, distracted. In the 1830s, Marie Taglioni, a celebrated Romantic Era ballerina, famously led the nuns. The “Ballet of the Nuns” is one of the most studied dance sequences in ballet history. The setting was usually very ornate and modeled after a cloister in a cathedral. ![]() In this moonlit scene, the nuns, or ballet dancers, would come back to life and dance away from their tombs in the moonlight. The Ballet from “Robert le Diable” depicts the legendary “ Ballet of the Nuns” scene from the French Opera, Robert Le Diable. The Ballet From “Robert le Diable,” 1871-72: A Snapshot of Ballet History The Ballet from “Robert le Diable” by Edgar Degas, 1871-1872, via the National Gallery of Art, Washington DC This specific instance reflects how the dancers were part of another realm of being, just visible from the stage.Ģ. Merging subjects with their backgrounds is typical of both Degas and the Impressionist movement. For this reason, the painting is on several must-see lists. In this painting, the grace depicted is fleeting, making it all the more bewitching. Though these dancers were beautiful and graceful, their careers were often unfortunately unstable. ![]() ![]() The pastel technique used to paint the dancers was described as the “ powder of a butterfly’s wings,” reflecting the short life of the dancer’s beauty. Please check your inbox to activate your subscription Thank you!
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