Dancer Kneeling, Seen from the Back

Dancer Kneeling, Seen from the Back by Edgar Degas (French, 1834-1917) is a crucial study dating from the height of the artist's intense fascination with the ballet world, executed between 1880 and 1885. Classified as a drawing, this independent work or preparatory sketch utilizes charcoal with vibrant touches of pastel on cream wove paper. This strategic combination of dry media allowed Degas to capture the figure's form quickly while introducing subtle color and atmosphere, highlighting his technical mastery of line and tone during this productive period.

Degas was renowned for his insightful depictions of modern Parisian life in France, particularly his focus on dancers captured in informal moments of preparation, rest, or rehearsal. In this specific composition, the dancer is observed intimately from the rear, her body angled in a posture of rest or exertion, emphasizing the structure and musculature beneath her temporary costume. Unlike many of his finished oil paintings that presented staged scenes, works like this drawing reveal the artist's dedication to studying the human form repeatedly, often using rapid sketches to refine poses for larger compositions or simply for immediate artistic expression.

This exceptional example of Degas's draftsmanship is held in the prestigious collection of the Art Institute of Chicago. As one of the master drawings created by the French artist, the work exemplifies his late 19th-century explorations into capturing movement and light through unconventional cropping and viewpoints. Because many significant works from this period have entered the public domain, high-quality prints and reproductions of the drawing classification, such as Dancer Kneeling, Seen from the Back, remain highly sought after by collectors and students of 19th-century art alike.