Dancer Holding her Right Foot in Her Right Hand 1850 - 1920

Editor: Here we have Degas’ bronze sculpture, *Dancer Holding her Right Foot in Her Right Hand*, made sometime between 1850 and 1920. There's something about the rawness of the figure and her intense focus that I find compelling. What stories do you think this piece might be telling? Curator: This sculpture speaks volumes about the socio-political position of women, especially dancers, during Degas' time. While celebrated on stage, dancers were often objectified and exploited. Does the figure’s apparent physical strain also speak to that exploitation, given the demands placed upon dancers’ bodies? Editor: That's an interesting perspective. I was so caught up in the movement I hadn't considered that it might also signify a form of oppression. How does the bronze medium play into this reading? Curator: The bronze, a classical material typically used for heroic figures, is here applied to a working-class woman. This juxtaposition creates a dialogue about who is deemed worthy of immortalization in art and, by extension, in history. Consider how this challenges traditional hierarchies. Is Degas, perhaps, acknowledging the labor and skill involved in dance while also commenting on the social inequalities of his time? Editor: I see. It is as though Degas uses this traditional medium to elevate the status of these dancers, whilst simultaneously suggesting the strenuous expectation to which they are subjected. It’s making me consider the politics of the female body, particularly one that’s perpetually on display and up for public consumption. Curator: Precisely. Furthermore, ask yourselves who the intended audience of these sculptures was. It's vital we understand that art doesn't exist in a vacuum, it exists within a web of social relations, especially those pertaining to power and gender. Editor: Thinking about the statue from this new angle is truly eye-opening. I will be mindful from now on to scrutinize beyond the aesthetics to grasp the whole story. Curator: Absolutely. It’s in deconstructing these layers of meaning, can we unlock a more profound and enriched appreciation for the art we see.