Dancers
1896
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
1896
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
This painting shows three ballet dancers stretching in the background, their backs to us. They’re not performing—they’re just loosening up between dances. Degas used pastels here, layering soft yellows, oranges, and pinks until the paper looks rough. He liked these quiet moments better than big stage scenes. The dancers don’t pose—they just exist, caught in their own world. Look up Edgar Degas (French, 1834–1917) to see more of his offstage ballet scenes.
