Dimensions: 53.2 x 38.0 x 20.0 cm
Copyright: Public Domain
This bronze sculpture of a dancer holding her right foot in her right hand, was crafted by Edgar Degas. I like to imagine Degas in his studio, wrestling with the wax, coaxing this figure into being. You can almost see the push and pull, the give and take, as he teases out the dancer's form. Her gesture is a study in contrasts, isn’t it? The grounded weight of her supporting leg against the airy extension of her arm. She finds a point of balance, as if inventing new ways for the body to take up space. The bronze has a tactile quality, inviting you to run your hands over the surface. Degas was so fascinated by dancers, always seeking to capture their fleeting movements and the strain on their bodies. It reminds me of Rodin’s sculptures. There’s something so human about the way she's caught between poses, a testament to the ongoing conversation between artists across time. It's an intimate glimpse into a moment of quiet contemplation, a pause amidst the dance.
Comments
Degas modelled numerous figures in classical ballet poses but also many dancers in supposedly unguarded moments. He shows them pausing, stretching or adjusting their clothes. These less representative postures stand in striking contrast to the idealised depictions of human beings demanded by the art academy. Degas was interested in experimenting with the distribution of masses, balancing weights and arranging limbs in as many different ways as possible. The sculptures do not have a clear-cut face, instead, they invite the viewer to discover ever new and exciting perspectives. Only then can the motif be experienced in its entirety.
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