Ballerina in blauw en rood before 1894

This image is a page from an unknown book that contains an image of a ballerina in blue and red. It’s a work that speaks to the historical context of ballet as a highly gendered art form. Historically, ballet has been associated with femininity and the construction of female identity within strict parameters. Consider the ballerina's tutu, a costume that simultaneously empowers her movement and sexualizes her body for the viewer's gaze. The use of red and blue here might suggest a kind of duality in that performance, a tension between discipline and display. Despite the often rigid traditions, ballet can also be a space for individual expression and resistance. Think of the ballerina who, through her unique interpretation of a role, challenges conventional representations and reclaims agency over her own body and story. "Ballerina in blauw en rood" invites us to consider ballet's complex relationship with gender, identity, and power. The artwork resonates with the personal struggles and triumphs of those who seek to express themselves within its form.