On Stage III
1876–77
Medium
Softground etching,drypoint, and roulette on wove paper; fourth state of five
Dimensions
sheet: 6 13/16 x 9 13/16 in. (17.3 x 25 cm) plate: 3 7/8 x 5 in. (9.9 x 12.7 cm)
Classification
Prints
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Rogers Fund, 1921
Accession Number
21.39.2
Tags
Art Historical Context
Edgar Degas's *On Stage III* (1876–77) captures the enchanting world of the ballet, a recurring obsession for the French artist during the Impressionist era. Though Degas distanced himself from the label, his innovative prints like this one showcase his fascination with modern life, particularly the behind-the-scenes drama of the Paris Opéra. Printed on wove paper, this fourth state of five depicts women—likely ballerinas—poised on stage, evoking the fleeting grace and artificial glamour of 19th-century performance culture. Degas masterfully combined softground etching, which mimics the soft ...
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 ...