Reproduction hand painted of the painting
The Ballet (Degas)

“The Ballet” is a pastel work that transports us backstage at the Opera, Edgar Degas’s favorite world. The scene depicts a group of dancers waiting to go on stage, adjusting their costumes and hairstyles. On the right, a man in a black suit, likely a patron or protector, watches them closely. The composition, with its low-angle view and tight framing that cuts off the figures, gives an impression of spontaneity, as if we were interrupting a conversation. The gauzy white tutus, enhanced with touches of pink, contrast with the dark background and the man’s suit. Degas captures not the glamour of the performance, but the more intimate and sometimes tense atmosphere backstage.