"Dancer Turning," created by Edgar Degas French, 1834-1917, is a dynamic study executed between 1871 and 1880. This significant drawing showcases Degas’s deep technical experimentation with dry media, a practice central to his preparatory work. The artist employed charcoal, meticulously heightened with white chalk, and utilized stumping to create soft transitions and robust volumetric modeling. The medium rests upon a subtly textured pinkish-gray laid paper, originally laced with blue fibers but now slightly discolored to a warmer brownish-gray tone due to age.
As a central figure in 19th-century French art, Degas was preoccupied with capturing modern urban life, particularly the demanding rehearsal spaces and nuanced performances of the ballet. This drawing captures the dancer mid-movement, emphasizing the immediacy and physical effort of her turn. The focus on momentary action and the powerful draftsmanship evident in this study informed the composition and structure of his later, highly finished paintings and sculptures.
The period 1871-1880 was crucial for the development of the artist's style, marking his shift away from classical subjects toward acute, observational realism. This masterful example of Degas's figure study currently resides in the esteemed collection of the Art Institute of Chicago. As a celebrated work of drawing from France, it is frequently referenced in studies of movement. For those interested in acquiring high-quality reproductions, the piece is now in the public domain, allowing for easy access to prints of this essential representation of dance and performance.
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