Dancer Looking at the Sole of Her Right Foot (Fourth State) 1890 - 1920

This bronze sculpture of a dancer looking at her foot was made by Edgar Degas. He was really interested in dancers, not just on stage but in the practice room, stretching and tying ribbons, all those in-between moments. I wonder what Degas was thinking when he made this. I mean, the fourth state – what were the previous three? Was he trying to capture the perfect balance of tension and ease? Her body is so solid and grounded, yet there's this incredible lightness, like she could float away. It’s as if she’s caught in a fleeting moment. She's really in her head, isn't she? Focused, maybe a little lost in thought, maybe trying to figure out what comes next. Painters and sculptors, we're all in this ongoing conversation, trying to figure out how to make sense of the world, one mark, one gesture at a time.