Artwork
Ballet Graces
Ballet Graces is a print by J. Follit. It dates from 1850 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
Overview
Ballet Graces / No 3 is a mid-19th-century print depicting a ballet dancer. It is part of a series of similar images.
Subject & Meaning
The print shows a generic ballet dancer, not a specific individual. The dancer's attire, including a tight bodice and layered, bell-shaped skirt, represents the era's notion of a 'ballet look'.
Legacy
The image of the ballet dancer presented in this print has endured, remaining recognizable even to those with no direct experience of ballet, and continues to influence the popular perception of ballet dancers.
Artist & collection
Artist
Mid-19th-century prints of ballet dancers in graceful poses, titled Ballet Graces, line up in numbered sheets.
