Ballet Scene 1879

Edgar Degas was a master of capturing the movement and grace of dancers. This pastel drawing, "Ballet Scene" (1879), depicts a group of ballerinas mid-pose. Degas's use of pastel allows him to create a sense of softness and fluidity, emphasizing the delicate movement of the dancers' bodies. The blurred backgrounds and cropped figures create a sense of immediacy and informality, drawing the viewer into the intimate world of the ballet stage.