Fan Mount: The Ballet

Art Historical Context

Step into the enchanting world of Edgar Degas *Fan Mount: The Ballet (1879), a watercolor and metallic paint on silk that captures the grace of ballet dancers mid-performance. Degas, a master of the Impressionist movement was captivated by the ballet's backstage drama and fleeting movements, often depicting dancers in intimate, candid moments. This fan mount, measuring just 6 1/8 x 21 1/4 inches, evokes the opulent social scene of late 19th-century Paris where such decorative objects were fashionable accessories for theatergoers. The artwork's silk medium, enhanced by shimmering metallic paint, lends a luminous quality that mimics stage lighting and the dancers' tutus, highlighting Degas's innovative use of light and color. As a drawing classified under European Paintings at The Metropolitan Museum of Art (from the H. O. Havemeyer Collection), it showcases his fluid, expressive style—loose strokes suggesting motion rather than rigid detail. This piece reflects the cultural allure of ballet in Belle Époque France, where women dancers symbolized both artistry and aspiration. A charming glimpse into Degas's obsession with *la vie de ballet*, it invites visitors to appreciate how everyday elegance met high art on a lady's fan.

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 ...