Dancer Kneeling, Seen from the Back 1880 - 1885

Edgar Degas's "Dancer Kneeling, Seen from the Back" (1880-1885) exemplifies the artist's fascination with the human form, particularly the dancers of the Paris Opera. The drawing, rendered in charcoal and pastel on paper, captures the dancer in a moment of repose, seen from behind as she kneels, highlighting the elegance and fluidity of her movement. Degas, known for his innovative use of perspective and unconventional compositions, often depicted dancers in unguarded moments, capturing the rawness and immediacy of their physicality. This work is part of Degas's extensive exploration of the ballet world, a subject that consumed him throughout his career.