The Ballet from "Robert le Diable"

The Ballet from "Robert le Diable" was executed by Edgar Degas in 1871. This oil on canvas painting is a seminal example of the artist’s lifelong fascination with the world of performance and the mechanics of the ballet. The work captures a scene related to Giacomo Meyerbeer’s celebrated 1831 opera, Robert le Diable, which was renowned for its spectacular Act III "Ballet of the Nuns." While Degas famously depicted female dancers, this particular piece includes prominent depictions of men associated with the theater environment, observing the rehearsal or performance.

Degas used the medium of oil on canvas to create a dynamic, cropped viewpoint, typical of his innovative compositions influenced by photography and Japanese ukiyo-e prints. He often rendered the sometimes grueling reality behind the glamorous facade of the dance, focusing less on idealized movement and more on the rigorous postures of preparation and practice. The composition allows the viewer a privileged glimpse into the wings or the rehearsal studio, effectively capturing the energy of the dancing figures alongside the more static observers. This work serves as an important document of 19th-century Parisian theatrical culture.

This masterwork is housed in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. Degas produced numerous studies focusing on ballet subjects throughout his career, making this 1871 canvas a key marker in his artistic development. As a historically significant piece, high-quality prints reflecting the detail of the original painting are frequently made available, sometimes through public domain initiatives for educational use, ensuring its broad appreciation decades after its creation.