Copy painting on canvas of the artwork
The Orchestra at the Opera (Degas)

“The Orchestra at the Opera” is a revolutionary masterpiece that blurs the lines between a group portrait and a genre scene. Degas places us in the orchestra pit, up close with the musicians. At the center, his friend, the bassoonist Désiré Dihau, is the focal point, surrounded by his colleagues. The framing is bold: heads and instruments overlap, creating a dense and dynamic composition. Above them, the stage is visible, but only partially, with the legs and gauzy tutus of the dancers. This unique perspective emphasizes the work of the often-unseen musicians, contrasting their black-and-white reality with the colorful and dreamlike world of the ballet.