In the Wings
1899
oil
From the collection of Art Institute of Chicago
1899
oil
From the collection of Art Institute of Chicago
The painting shows a backstage scene at a Parisian opera house. Women in ballet dresses stand with men in fancy suits. These men are trying to talk to the women, but one woman looks away, not interested. The men in the painting had special access to this backstage area. They could watch the ballet and talk to the dancers. This was a common practice in 19th-century Paris. The painting uses strong contrasts of light and dark, which is a technique called chiaroscuro.
