"Ballet Rehearsal on the Stage." 1874. Edgar Degas
Interesting to study this painting with its limited color palate, and the different actions of the dancers on stage. Still, the tones of the painting are
lovely. The foreground dancers are waiting in the wings, relaxing, while the others are dancing in front. If you look carefully, there is a man watching from one of the lower boxes. And I read that Degas reworked the dancers legs and you can see an outline of a foot in the left lower half.
So, why put the gentleman in the painting? For intrigue, for a distant focus point or?
Always, Degas had these unusual angles, not the conventional straight-on point of view, but I read that he was very interested in Japanese painting and that had given him the idea of the odd angle from which to sketch and paint his figures. More on Degas on the "D" day of the challenge.
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Interesting to study this painting with its limited color palate, and the different actions of the dancers on stage. Still, the tones of the painting are
lovely. The foreground dancers are waiting in the wings, relaxing, while the others are dancing in front. If you look carefully, there is a man watching from one of the lower boxes. And I read that Degas reworked the dancers legs and you can see an outline of a foot in the left lower half.
So, why put the gentleman in the painting? For intrigue, for a distant focus point or?
Always, Degas had these unusual angles, not the conventional straight-on point of view, but I read that he was very interested in Japanese painting and that had given him the idea of the odd angle from which to sketch and paint his figures. More on Degas on the "D" day of the challenge.
Degas did a lot of dancers, didn't he?
ReplyDeleteLots and lots, Tony. He could probably sit in on rehearsals, make some sketches and then back to the studio. Easier, and he did not have to pay the models, I am thinking. And he was indoors where it was warmer.
ReplyDeleteGreetings human, loverofwords,
ReplyDeleteA most interesting pawst, my human friend. I love ballet and I love that painting by Degas. I think that might be my human, Gary, in the background of the painting :)
Penny, the pawsitive host of the Alphabark Challenge, 2014! :)
I will check my small collection and see if Degas included any dogs in his paintings. Gary does get around!
ReplyDeleteNice painting! Great work
ReplyDeleteLove Degas' ballet paintings. This one is great, not sure I had seen it before.
ReplyDeleteJO ON FOOD, MY TRAVELS AND A SCENT OF CHOCOLATE
He is an agent looking for stars...
ReplyDeleteI am still learning arts and culture of the western countries . My husband is fond of Museums and that is how I learned about some famous artists. I learned about Degas, just now, from this post of yours. The simple pallet of shades from only one colour proves his artistry all the more.
ReplyDeleteAlso your post shows your own ingenuity of using Ballet for the letter B, while at the same time informing us about an artist who's name begins with the letter "D".
some of the dancers are less than perfect and look mildly distressed about it perhaps it was this man watching in the wings' definition of perfection they tried to live up to? though none of them look towards him directly maybe they were unaware of his presence "the phantom of the ballet"?
ReplyDeleteThat unusual angle somehow increases the sense of being a quiet observer, physically present while carefully keeping out of the way of the dancers.
ReplyDeleteThe man in the distance looks all sharp edges in contrast with the graceful lines of the dancers and their costumes.
I love Degas and his many pictures and sculptures of dancers. Your blog gives a stopping off and resting type of indulgence when we can lose ourselves in art for a short time in such a busy world. Many thanks.
ReplyDeleteHi Natasha .. thanks for showing us Degas Ballet Dancers .. I don't think I'd have seen the man or the first painted ballet shoe .. and the colours are very pastel aren't they ...
ReplyDeleteThese will be interesting to come back to re-read for more learning .. cheers Hilary
Wonderful blog. I hope I can find my way back to it because I think I can get some much-needed art education from it. Your Degas dancers post showed me all the little things I would not have noticed. Thank you. Mary at Variety, the Spice of Life
ReplyDeletePS I love the header picture and the Lewis Carroll quote!! Mary
DeleteThanks, Mary. I have kept the header photo for quite a while. It reminds me of a wonderful trip we took. Lewis Carroll was always a favorite of mine.
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