Two Dancers 1880

Edgar Degas created this pastel drawing of two dancers at the barre sometime in the late nineteenth century. The scene is set in the institutional space of the dance studio, a space that played a central role in the careers of aspiring ballerinas. Ballet in France was traditionally associated with the aristocracy, but by the time Degas was painting, it had become increasingly associated with the middle and upper classes. For many working-class families, the Opera Garnier's ballet school represented a rare opportunity for upward mobility. Degas repeatedly returned to scenes of dancers both onstage and in the practice rooms, representing the grueling work and discipline that underpinned the apparent grace of the performance. We, as social historians, should remember that the image is never neutral; it always takes a point of view. By examining how Degas chose to represent these dancers, and by understanding the historical and institutional context in which the work was made, we can better understand the complex social dynamics of nineteenth-century Paris.