Little Dancer Aged Fourteen 1878 - 1881

This is Edgar Degas's sculpture, Little Dancer Aged Fourteen, a work of wax, bronze, and fabric, that captures a young dancer in a moment of stillness. The figure stands with a distinctive posture, her shoulders back, and head tilted upwards, creating a sense of both vulnerability and defiance. Degas’s strategic use of mixed media is striking. The contrast between the bronze skin, the real fabric of the tutu, and the bodice creates a tension between the permanence of sculpture and the ephemeral nature of dance. The tutu itself is a cloud of muted color that softens the otherwise rigid verticality of the figure. This juxtaposition of materials and forms invites reflection on the nature of representation itself, questioning what it means to capture a fleeting moment in a permanent medium. The tilt of the head and the positioning of the limbs suggest a narrative, a story of discipline and aspiration, but ultimately, the form remains open, inviting multiple interpretations.