Dressed Dancer at Rest, Hands Behind Her Back, Right Leg Forward (Second State) 1890 - 1920

This bronze sculpture, Dressed Dancer at Rest, was made by Edgar Degas, though we can’t be sure exactly when. Degas was fascinated by movement, and you can really see this in the way he’s captured the dancer’s momentary pause. The texture of the bronze is so interesting here – it’s rough and uneven, like it's been built up in layers. Look closely, and you can see the imprints of his fingers. It's like he’s inviting us to witness the act of making. The skirt is particularly fascinating, it almost looks like foliage, a thicket of marks that give a real sense of weight and volume. It’s so different from the smooth, polished surfaces you often see in classical sculpture. That one leg, jutting out slightly, just captures the idea of transition and movement and the fleeting nature of things. For me, it has something of the raw expressiveness of Medardo Rosso. Degas leaves it open for us. It's a constant conversation, which is what art should be, right?