Arabesque

About this artwork

After Edgar Degas’s death in 1917, a large group of sculptures were discovered in his studio, most of them modeled in wax. With one exception, the works had never been exhibited during his lifetime and were virtually unknown to his contemporaries. Parisian foundry A. A. Hébrard eventually cast 74 of the figures into bronze, and three of the resulting sculptures in the collection of the Art Institute: Dancer Ready to Dance, Right Foot Forward, Arabesque, and Woman Arranging Her Hair. In Dancer R...

Art Historical Context

Edgar Degas, a master of Impressionism renowned for capturing fleeting moments of modern life, crafted *Arabesque* between 1885 and 1890. This bronze statuette, measuring 54.6 × 61 cm, depicts a dancer frozen in the elegant arabesque pose—a signature ballet movement symbolizing grace and poise. Modeled during Degas' later years when his eyesight was failing, it reflects his lifelong obsession with ballet dancers, he observed backstage at the Paris Opéra. Cast posthumously between 1919 and 1921 from Degas' original wax sculptures, *Arabesque* exemplifies the transition of his intimate studio works into enduring bronze editions. Degas' sculptural technique emphasized naturalism and movement, with dynamic lines and subtle distortions that convey the body's torsion and energy. Housed in the Art Institute of Chicago's Department of Painting and Sculpture of Europe, this piece highlights his innovative blend of painting and sculpture, bridging Impressionist light effects with sculptural realism. As a cultural icon, *Arabesque* captures the allure of 19th-century Parisian ballet culture, inviting viewers to appreciate the dancer's disciplined artistry and Degas' genius for portraying ephemeral beauty in solid form.

About the Artist

Hilaire Germain Edgar Degas · 1834–1917

Hilaire Germain Edgar Degas, born on July 19, 1834, in Paris to a prosperous banking family, was the eldest of five children. His mother, Célestine Musson, a Creole from New Orleans whose father Germain Musson had roots in Haiti, died when Degas was thirteen, leaving his father Augustin and unmarried uncles to guide him. Educated at the elite Lycée Louis-le-Grand, where he earned a baccalauréat in...