Study in the Nude of Little Dancer Aged Fourteen (Nude Little Dancer) c. 1878 - 1881

This sculpture, ‘Study in the Nude of Little Dancer Aged Fourteen’ was made by Edgar Degas using bronze. Degas was unusual in his embrace of wax as a primary sculptural medium. Though it has a long history in preparatory models, wax was not a material typically used for finished sculptures. Its soft, pliable nature allowed him to capture fleeting gestures and subtle anatomical details, as seen in the dancer's posture and expression. The lost wax casting process then translates this into more durable bronze. The choice of materials and processes has imbued the artwork with social significance, because dance was a popular form of entertainment, but the dancers themselves often came from impoverished backgrounds. These ballet students were sometimes vulnerable to exploitation. It is possible to interpret the work as a commentary on the social issues surrounding young dancers in 19th-century Paris. Considering materials, making, and context is vital to fully understand the meaning of an artwork, and challenges traditional boundaries between fine art and craft.