Mlle Fiocre dans le ballet La Source 1866 - 1868

This painting was made by Edgar Degas, using oil paints on canvas. Degas was part of the Impressionist movement, but his approach to process was somewhat different than his peers. Take a look at the way he's worked the surface. The strokes are loose, especially in the background, but you can still discern a real interest in form and volume, particularly the bodies of the figures. They are modeled with a clear light source. As you can see, the textures, weights, and colors of the oil paint allow for a rich and sensual depiction. Degas had a background in academic painting, so he was very capable when it came to capturing the illusion of reality. But instead of trying to fool the eye, as a fully traditional artist would, he allows the traces of his labor to remain visible, making the process central to the experience of the painting. For Degas, the skill of art-making was every bit as important as the subject represented.