IMPRESSIONISM CONTINUED THE ANALYSIS OF A PAINTING BY DEGAS
“THE DANCING LESSON” Truth & Dancers Another main artist that took
ballerinas practicing in front of their
part in the Impressionism
prof. The prof is in the center of the
Movement is the one and only,
image observing the dancers before
Edgar Degas. Degas was known for
him. At first glance, the eye is
his talent in paintings, sculptures,
automatically drawn to closest
printmaking and drawing, but
dancer in the foreground with her
rejected the term as a
back turn to the viewer. The reason
“Impressionist”. He believed he was
she is noticed first in a sea of
a Realist which is why his works
ballerinas, is due to the contrast
were composed
from the flower in
mainly of
her hair and the
people instead
darker bow on her
of the popular
back. The eye then
impressionist
moves clockwise
landscapes, but
around the image
still stayed true
taking into account
to accuracy and
all the various
direct
dancers. Finally, the
observation.
eye stops at the
His main focus
prof. Degas uses
in subject
consistent colors
matter were
throughout the
ballet dancers,
piece which creates
which in total equal to half of his
the great balance, with the exception
artworks, along with female nudes.
of the closest ballerina. The use of
The first painting in his series of 40
pastel colors and a great use of
pieces of art concerning the subject
white contribute to the unity of the
of dance was “The Dancing Lesson”
overall piece. For example all the
(1880). The painting is composed of
dancers are in white, have similar
a dance rehearsal. An image you
color bows that reflect to the wall
could see in most ballet studios. The
color used in the studio. As stated
painting takes place in a dance
above, the painting is composed of
studio with multiple young female
high contrast due to the white used. [Pick the date] [Edition 1, Volume 1]
“They call me the painter of dancers. They don't understand that the dancer has been for me a pretext for painting pretty fabrics and for rendering movement.”
- Degas