Where to See Slippers of Ballerina: Private Collection

Edgar Degas captured a dancer's shoes in this pastel study, part of his extensive documentation of ballet life. Between 1873 and 1874, he made several studies of dancers adjusting their shoes, shown from different angles. His masterful use of pastel builds up color in layers.

Degas created about 1,500 paintings and works on paper depicting dancers during his career. The chalky pastel medium allowed him to capture movement and texture with outstanding delicacy. These shoes represent not performance but the unglamorous preparation behind the art, showing dancers as hardworking craftspeople rather than ethereal figures.

Degas made about 1,500 paintings and works on paper of dancers during his career. He depicted rehearsals, backstage moments, and preparation more often than actual performances.

Degas showed the unglamorous reality behind performance. Ballet shoes represented hard work and preparation. Between 1873-1874, he made several studies of dancers adjusting their shoes from different angles.

Degas was a masterful pastellist, using chalky pigment to build up color in layers. The medium allowed him to capture texture and movement with outstanding delicacy in his ballet studies.

The piece exemplifies Impressionism through its focus on contemporary life and loose handling. Degas showed ballet as work rather than romantic fantasy, capturing real moments of preparation.

Degas made about 1,500 paintings and works on paper of dancers during his career. He depicted rehearsals, backstage moments, and preparation more often than actual performances.

Degas was a masterful pastellist, using chalky pigment to build up color in layers. The medium allowed him to capture texture and movement with outstanding delicacy in his ballet studies.

The piece exemplifies Impressionism through its focus on contemporary life and loose handling. Degas showed ballet as work rather than romantic fantasy, capturing real moments of preparation.

Artwork Details

Where to See It

The Artist

Cite or Embed This Work

More by Edgar Degas

Singer in Green

Madame Rene De Gas

Dancers Practicing at the Barre

Mademoiselle Malo

Also at Private Collection

Faun

Lorenzaccio

Marie Gallén at the Kuhmoniemi-bridge

A Beggar Warming his Hands over a Chafing Dish

Related Works

Dancers tying shoes

Dancers Climbing the Stairs

Three Dancers in an Exercise Hall

Meules (Haystacks)

Fillette à la corbeille fleurie

Le bassin aux nymphéas

Garçon à la pipe (Boy with a Pipe)

Dance at Le Moulin de la Galette

The Fifer

The Cradle

Olympia

Luncheon of the Boating Party

About Slippers of Ballerina

Own Art Like This