Dancers at the Old Opera House
c. 1877
Medium
pastel over monotype on laid paper
Dimensions
overall: 21.8 x 17.1 cm (8 9/16 x 6 3/4 in.) framed: 35.5 x 31.1 x 3.8 cm (14 x 12 1/4 x 1 1/2 in.)
Classification
Drawing
Department
CG-E
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Ailsa Mellon Bruce Collection
Accession Number
1970.17.26
Art Historical Context
Edgar Degas, a master chronicler of Parisian life and a key figure in the Impression movement, captured the graceful world of ballet dancers in *Dancers at the Old House* around 1877. This intimate drawing depicts performers at the historic Paris Opéra, a favorite subject for Degas, who frequented rehearsals to sketch the fleeting moments of movement and camaraderie backstage. During the late 19th century, the Opéra was a cultural hub, blending high art with the gritty realities dancers' lives, which Degas portrayed with unflinching realism rather than idealized beauty. The artwork's innovati...
About the Artist
Edgar Degas · 1834–1917
Edgar Degas (1834-1917) stands as one of the most innovative artists of the nineteenth century, whose distinctive vision transformed how modern life could be depicted on canvas. Born Hilaire-Germain-Edgar De Gas in Paris to a wealthy banking family—his father French, his mother a Louisiana Creole from New Orleans—Degas received a classical education before abandoning law studies in 1855 to pursue ...