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The Ballet of "Robert the Devil" (1871)
- Original dimensions
- 54.3 x 66 cm
- Museum
- Metropolitan Museum of Art
- Year
- 1871
Scene depicted
The painting "The Ballet of "Robert the Devil" (1871)" by Degas captures the excitement and fervor of the dancers preparing for one of the first performances of the eponymous ballet. The scene is inspired by the Paris Opera, a place where light, music, and movement intertwine. Degas, with his sharp gaze, immerses us in the heart of this performance, paying tribute to the beauty and excellence of ballet.
Historical context
Created in Paris, a stronghold of art in the 19th century, this painting is emblematic of the Impressionist movement, a revolutionary current that redefined the representation of light and human movement. In 1871, in a post-revolutionary context, Edgar Degas drew his inspiration from ballet, a symbol of grace and sensuality. Today, this canvas is carefully preserved at the Metropolitan Museum of Art , a living testament to this bold artistic era.
Place in the artist's career
This canvas marks a turning point in the career of Edgar Degas , illustrating his ongoing fascination with movement, posture, and light. Through works like "The Dance Class" and "The Dancers at the Barre," he reveals the evolution of his style, a journey between realistic sketching and avant-garde abstraction.
Anecdote
“Art is a freedom, a movement of the soul that expresses itself through the body.” Edgar Degas remembered a sunny morning at the Opera, where the ballerinas, in rehearsal, created an atmosphere of magic and beauty. It is this fleeting moment that this masterpiece seeks to immortalize: the dance, with its thousand shades of emotion.