Edgar Degas is renowned for his paintings of ballet dancers, and his “Ballet Class” is no exception. Dating back to 1874, this painting has stood the test of time as one of Degas’ most iconic works. The painting depicts a group of dancers, in the middle of their practice session, rehearsing at the Paris Opera Ballet school.
The painting was created using oil on canvas, which gives it a timeless quality that has held up well over the years. The figures in the painting are rendered with an incredible level of detail, capturing every nuance and gesture of the ballet dancers as they practice their craft. The background is also filled with interesting elements such as theater curtains and chandeliers that all come together to create a vivid scene.
The painting was originally commissioned by Alfred Beurdeley, an art collector and dealer who had become interested in Degas’ work after seeing some of his sketches at an exhibition. Beurdeley wanted to help Degas succeed financially so he suggested that he paint a series of works featuring ballet dancers for him. Degas accepted the offer and proceeded to create several paintings including “Ballet Class”.
Degas painted “Ballet Class” in his studio at 11 rue de la Glacière in Paris. The studio was located close to the Opera Garnier where the Paris Opera Ballet performed and rehearsed regularly so it was easy for Degas to observe them from his studio window while he worked on the piece.
It is believed that some elements of “Ballet Class” were based on sketches that Degas had made while watching rehearsals at the opera house itself rather than from studio window observations alone. This theory has been supported by certain researchers who have studied Degas’ works over time and noted similarities between “Ballet Class” and other sketches that were known to have been drawn while observing performances at the opera house itself.
Conclusion: Edgar Degas’ iconic painting “Ballet Class” was painted in 1874 in his studio located at 11 rue de la Glacière in Paris, near the Paris Opera Ballet’s rehearsal hall. It is believed that some elements of this work are based on sketches made during performances at the opera house itself rather than just observations from his studio window.