Copy painting hand-painted of the artwork
Before the Ballet (Degas)

This exceptional panoramic format gives us a wide view of a rehearsal room. On the left, a group of dancers practices at the barre. On the right, in the foreground, two other ballerinas are resting, one stretching on a chair, the other curled up on the floor. Degas contrasts the disciplined group with individual relaxation, creating a complex visual narrative. The composition is masterful, using the empty space in the center to balance the two groups. The palette is dark and subtle, dominated by browns and grays, which makes the dancers’ light tutus stand out. The light, coming from a window, creates a melancholic atmosphere. It is a meditation on the duality of a dancer’s life: collective effort and solitary fatigue. The original is housed at the National Gallery of Art, Washington D.C.