Four Dancers 1902

Edgar Degas made this pastel drawing, Four Dancers, in a private collection. Degas’ mark making in this piece is so immediate, you can almost see his hand moving across the paper. Look at how the colors blend and vibrate against each other; it’s a process of layering and building, not unlike how dancers build their performance. The texture is soft, but the lines are decisive. Notice the dancer on the left; her arm is defined by a single stroke, confident and direct. The color palette is warm – oranges, yellows, and greens dominate, creating a sense of energy and movement. This approach makes the piece feel alive, like a fleeting moment captured in time. It reminds me a little of Toulouse-Lautrec's approach to capturing nightlife. Neither cared much about the clean lines of academic painting, but rather, about documenting a feeling.