Edgar Degas Paintings

Two Dancers Entering the Stage

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Edgar Degas immensely adored his ballerinas in all of their graceful form.

Some of his most prominent pieces include Group Of Dancers, Dancers, and A Grecian Dance. These stunning artworks capture the passion and beauty of ballet. Edgar Degas was a gifted artist who was able to capture different artistic elements throughout his work and create brilliant paintings. The Two Dancers Entering The Stage incorporate the artist’s two favourite elements together. Degas loved to showcase ballerinas on stage dancing, alongside ballerina off stage preparing to go on stage. Some of the paintings that capture this behind the scene element include Dancer In Her Dressing Room, Dancers On Set, and Before The Curtain Call.

The Two Dancers Entering The Stage perfectly finds the middle as it merges the two together. The viewer is able to see the movements the ballerinas use to manoeuvre themselves onto the stage, rather than just walking into the centre of the stage. This stunning movement adds to the artwork as it reveals a secret to the viewer. It showcases that every element of the performance is an art. Two young ballerinas fill the canvas of the artwork. The ballerina near the centre of the frame looks towards the ground as she walks onto the stage. Her right arm is folded towards her jaw, while her other arm flings towards the backstage. While at first look it may see like a red detailing covers her dress, however it is instead the ballerina throwing rose petals towards the floor.

The ballerina throws these petals behind upon her dress as she enters the stage. Similar flowers line her hair in a classic bun. The primary ballerina seems to incredibly resemble the character within the artist’s other painting Dancer In Her Dressing Room. Both women have a similar hair style and similar facial features. Both women are dressed in grand romantic tutus. The fabric used in based in a light sheer chiffon layered onto one another. It is evident that Degas was a masterful artist who was able to showcase chiffon fabric unlike any other artist. However, as it is evident within this piece, the artist preferred to stick to a more impressionist feel that doesn’t show the layers of the tutu.

Instead, the viewer can solemnly see the fluffy fabric. The white corset gently falls off of the ballerina’s shoulders exposing their collar bones and upper chest. The primary ballerina gently points her feet in a pliŽ opposite from one another. The woman behind her is dressed in the exact same attire. Instead her face looks upwards towards the ceiling as she tippy toes onto the stage. Her hands are raised gracefully above her head as she looks into the stage. The woman’s soft brown hair gently falls towards her face while an orange bow holds everything in place.

As it seems like the woman just entered the stage, she has not yet thrown her roses towards the floor. Once the audience gets a glimpse of her, she will release the flowers onto the stage. Degas adds a few shades of green onto the woman’s skirt. If the viewer closely examines the right side of the painting behind the curtain, a figure of a large man becomes evident. He is dressed in a classic black suit with a top hat. Perhaps this gentleman is Degas himself illustrating his behind the scenes glimpse into the life of ballerinas. The remainder of the canvas is quickly painted in an impressionist feel. Bright orange and green shades fill the background of the canvas to create a setting for the story.

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