Before the Curtain Call 1892

Edgar Degas captured these ballet dancers backstage with pastel on paper. His approach was part of the Impressionist movement, which sought to represent fleeting moments of modern life, and in that sense, it can be seen as a document of the Parisian ballet scene. Beyond just documenting, Degas positions the women in a composition that reflects their limited social mobility. The women in this painting find themselves in a liminal space between stage and the world beyond. They wait, heads bowed, and are confined to their roles. Their futures are uncertain and rely on the male gaze of their instructors and potential patrons. Degas develops an alternative narrative by drawing attention to the emotional and physical labor these women endure in pursuit of their art. We're reminded that even in the world of art and beauty, societal power dynamics shape the stories we tell.