Rehearsal 1879

Edgar Degas created ‘Rehearsal’ using oil paints on canvas. Degas applied the oil paint in thin layers, with loose brushstrokes that bring a sense of spontaneity. The visible brushwork and unfinished quality of the background contrast with the more detailed depiction of the dancers, particularly their tutus. These would be constructed from layers of tulle – a fine, lightweight netting typically made from silk, nylon, or rayon. This careful construction is thrown into relief by the apparent carelessness of the artist’s rendering of the space around them. Although ‘fine art’ such as painting is often set apart from ‘craft’ like textiles, this distinction breaks down when we recognize the immense skill involved in both. Think of the labor that goes into the production of the dancers’ costumes, and the social world they inhabit. Degas captures a moment in time, but also the broader conditions of artistic production in 19th century Paris.