Artwork
Dancers in the Classroom
Dancers in the Classroom is an oil painting by the Impressionist artist Edgar Degas. It dates from 1890 and is held in the collection of the Clark Art Institute.
About this work
Overview
Dancers in the Classroom is an 1890 oil painting by Edgar Degas, currently housed at the Clark Art Institute.
Subject & Meaning
The painting depicts nine young women in white tutus in a dance classroom, capturing a moment of practice or anticipation for a lesson. Their varied poses, including one relaxed figure on a bench and another holding a fan, convey a sense of everyday, unposed activity.
Technique & Style
Executed in oil paint, the work showcases Degas' characteristic attention to the nuances of posture and the mundane aspects of dancers' lives, diverging from traditional depictions of performance.
History & Provenance
Created in 1890, the painting's history prior to its acquisition by the Clark Art Institute is not detailed here, highlighting the need for further research into its early ownership and exhibition history.
Context
Part of Degas' extensive series on dancers, this work reflects his fascination with the ballet world, often capturing behind-the-scenes moments that reveal the daily realities of dancers' training.
Artist & collection
Artist
Born Hilaire-Germain-Edgar De Gas on 19 July 1834 in Paris, Edgar Degas came from an affluent banking family with aristocratic roots and spent his childhood among the cultivated circles of the French capital.
