Ballet Scene 1893

Edgar Degas made this pastel drawing, ‘Ballet Scene,’ sometime during the late 19th century in France. Degas was a privileged man who was fascinated by the ballet. Ballet was not just an art form but a social institution, especially for the young women often drawn from the working class. It offered them a chance at upward mobility, yet it also exposed them to exploitation. As you gaze into the hazy scene, you can almost feel the dancers' intense preparation and the grueling demands of their profession. The dancers' bodies contort and bend, their expressions hidden, hinting at the loss of self in the pursuit of perfection and, perhaps, security. Degas develops a narrative of labor, ambition, and the complex realities faced by young women in the 19th century. The drawing serves as a looking glass, reflecting societal expectations, class dynamics, and the personal sacrifices made in the name of art and survival.