What Is the Subject of the Ballet Class by Edgar Degas?

Ballet

The Ballet Class by Edgar Degas is an iconic painting that depicts the beauty of ballet and the grace and elegance of dancers. This painting was created in 1871 and is a part of the collection at the Musee d’Orsay in Paris.

The painting is an oil on canvas that measures about 6 feet tall and 5 feet wide. It shows a group of young ballerinas rehearsing in a ballet class at the Paris Opera Ballet School.

The dancers are dressed in their typical practice attire, which includes white tutus, stockings, and shoes. They are all positioned around a large barre in the center of the room.

The painting captures the focus and determination of each dancer as they strive to perfect their technique. The way Degas has captured each dancer’s individual movements is remarkable, with their arms reaching out gracefully to one side or another as they dance across the floor. The soft light coming through the windows adds to the romantic atmosphere of the painting, while still maintaining a clear view of each dancer’s technique.

The subject of this ballet class is not only a celebration of ballet as an art form but also serves as an exploration into human movement and emotion. Degas’s use of color and light highlights not only the movements but also creates an atmosphere that conveys both joy and concentration within these young dancers, showing us both sides of their artistry in one beautiful piece.

The subject of Ballet Class by Edgar Degas is to capture both the beauty and gracefulness of ballet as well as explore human movement and emotion through his use of color, light, and positioning within this iconic painting.