| Edgar Degas is highly considered to be one of the | | | | teacher Jules Perrot. The images in the painting itself |
| leading Impressionists of his day and as a result, the | | | | are not indicative of a traditional ballet class, as each |
| world has a number of paintings which enrich the art | | | | of the dancers appears to be doing something |
| world as a whole. One of Degas' most famous works | | | | different. A number of different poses are being |
| is The Dancing Class and when you look to this | | | | acted out by the dancers in the painting and only one |
| particular painting, you will be treated to a rich and | | | | of them appears to actually be dancing, while the |
| vibrant world that Degas has managed to capture for | | | | others seem to be waiting for a chance to take the |
| future generations to enjoy. There are a number of | | | | floor themselves. |
| layers to this particular painting and only after you | | | | The composition of the painting itself is a very fluid |
| take the time to study it in depth will you be able to | | | | one, allowing the eye to easily travel between a |
| fully appreciate everything it has to offer. | | | | number of different images found within the portrait. |
| To understand what Degas typically does in his | | | | One can easily focus on the dancer to the |
| paintings, you will need to look into the life of the | | | | foreground and easily move to the other dancers |
| man himself. Degas was born in 1834 and by age 18 | | | | standing to the edges of the room. It becomes very |
| was given permission to copy works directly from | | | | easy to notice the other details of the painting too, |
| the Louvre. This lead into a professional studying of | | | | including the pieces of equipment scattered |
| painting before Degas set about to travel around | | | | throughout the room or the mothers of the dancers |
| Italy and work. In 1868, Degas starts to gain | | | | seated in the background. |
| attention as an artist and becomes a frequent visitor | | | | Ultimately, this painting is one which offers a rich |
| to the Café Guerbois, which was frequented | | | | world to absorb. You can turn to The Dancing Class |
| by other such artists as Monet, Renoir, Manet, and | | | | when you are hoping to find a painting which is going |
| Cezanne, among others. His love of painting was | | | | to offer a rich landscape in a variety of depths and |
| coupled with his love for art itself and on his death | | | | colors to absorb. It is one of Degas' finest |
| had amassed such an art collection that it could have | | | | masterpieces and for this reason, should be |
| taken an entire museum to house it. | | | | considered a wise selection by anyone with a love of |
| His painting The Dancing Class itself was considered | | | | art. |
| to be made as a tribute to the esteemed ballet | | | | |