Ballet 1933

Alice Harris created this woodcut print called Ballet. Though undated, Harris, who lived from 1868 to 1968, most likely made this work during the rise of the Art Deco movement in the 1920s and 30s. Harris's print draws attention to the intricate class and gender dynamics inherent in ballet. The traditional representation of ethereal ballerinas floating above the stage is contrasted with the less glamorous elements of the performance—the musicians in the orchestra pit, the ticket booth, and the watchful usher. The black and white medium underscores these dichotomies. The visual language of the Art Deco movement flattens the image into sharp, graphic shapes. While the dancers embody a kind of feminine ideal, Harris frames them within the broader socio-economic structures that support their performance. The artist prompts us to consider who is seen and who remains in the shadows.