Dancer at the Bar (on Point)

Dancer at the Bar (on Point) by Edgar Degas French, 1834-1917 is a sensitive and powerful drawing created sometime between 1880 and 1890. This detailed study captures a ballerina paused during practice, focusing intensely on the effort and balance required to maintain a pointe position at the wooden bar. Degas executed the work in charcoal with pastel and estompe on tan laid paper, employing the charcoal for sharp, definitive lines while utilizing the estompe (a blending technique) to introduce delicate shading and soft tonal shifts. The addition of pastel highlights provided subtle warmth and depth, elevating the drawing from a simple sketch to a finished study of form.

Degas, a central figure in French art during the late 19th century, was famously preoccupied with the world of dance, moving away from idealized stage scenes to document the rigorous, often unglamorous reality of rehearsals and backstage preparations. This drawing classification underscores his profound reliance on line and his ability to quickly capture motion and musculature. The artist's distinctive approach to Realism documented the modern social landscape of Paris, finding artistic merit in the repetitive labor and institutional structure of the opera ballet.

This superb example of Degas's draughtsmanship is held in the permanent collection of the Art Institute of Chicago. The piece serves as a key illustration of the artist’s prolific working method, where drawing was foundational for his compositions across all mediums, including his highly regarded series of paintings and monotypes. As a celebrated piece representing French cultural history, high-quality images and prints of this important work are often made widely accessible through public domain collections and digital museum resources.