Actresses in Their Dressing Rooms
1880
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
1880
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
You see two actresses in small, side-by-side dressing rooms, lit by gaslight. Degas didn’t just sketch them—he carved the scene into metal first, then printed it. The walls and curtains twist like a puzzle, making the space feel tight and alive. It’s rare to see performers backstage, not onstage. If you like how Degas plays with light and shadow, look up *chiaroscuro*.
