The Ballet Rehearsal

Edgar Degas gained special access to the Paris Opera, allowing him to observe ballet rehearsals from backstage. This painting shows dancers practicing under the watchful eye of ballet master Jules Perrot, who leans on his stick in the center.

Degas's viewpoint is unconventional: dancers are cropped by the frame, the floor dominates the composition, and the light is the flat illumination of a rehearsal room, not stage drama. This casualness was radical.

Degas created dozens of ballet scenes over his career. This version is at the National Gallery of Art.