Man en ballerina 1892

Henri-Gabriel Ibels created this lithograph, Man en ballerina, now at the Rijksmuseum. The artwork is starkly divided into contrasting realms: darkness and light. On the left, vertical lines define a ghostly figure emerging from a black abyss, while on the right, an ethereal ballerina bathed in light seems almost superimposed against the title. Ibels uses bold color contrasts, setting the shadowy figure against the bright yellow of the dancer's tutu, destabilizing the familiar codes of theatre imagery. The composition directs us to question the relationship between spectator and performer, reality and illusion. The tension between the heavy, dark lines and the delicate forms underscores the work's engagement with the cultural codes of performance, questioning our perception and the power dynamics inherent in the act of viewing. This lithograph invites ongoing interpretation and re-interpretation.