Dancers in the Wings

Dancers in the Wings is a compelling print created by Edgar Degas between 1879 and 1880. This significant work showcases the artist’s mastery of complex printmaking techniques, specifically combining etching, aquatint, and drypoint on wove paper. Degas frequently explored the ballet world during the late 19th century, focusing not on the glamour of the performance but the intimate, often unposed moments found backstage and in rehearsal spaces.

The piece captures the everyday reality of the corps de ballet, depicting figures seemingly caught off-guard, leaning or resting just outside the view of the main audience. This focus aligns with the sensibilities of French artists working during the period spanning 1876 to 1900, who were deeply interested in modern life and unconventional, informal compositions. The technical richness of the process Degas employed—the careful lines of drypoint combined with the tonal variation achieved through aquatint—lends a specific immediacy and atmospheric depth to the scene. This approach distinguishes his work, demonstrating a preference for capturing fleeting moments rather than idealized narrative.

Unlike his celebrated oil paintings, Degas’s extensive body of graphic works, including these expressive prints, allows deep insight into his creative processes and compositional experimentation. The selection of subject matter reflects the artist’s ongoing fascination with the female form in movement, a signature theme throughout his career. This specific example of the printmaking output by the famed French artist is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art, Washington D.C. As a historical work of art from this crucial era, it is frequently reproduced, often made available as part of global public domain initiatives, ensuring continued scholarly access to these influential nineteenth-century prints.