Dancer Seated (study) 1872

Edgar Degas made this pastel drawing, *Dancer Seated (study)*, sometime in the late nineteenth century, during the height of his interest in depicting ballet dancers. Degas was deeply involved in the cultural milieu of Paris. He was fascinated by the Paris Opera, a space funded by the state and patronized by the city’s elite. While seemingly celebratory, his works are often criticized for their depictions of the dancers. His art was exhibited in the Impressionist exhibitions, which offered a radical alternative to the official Salon system administered by the Académie des Beaux-Arts. Many of the dancers he depicted came from poor backgrounds and had to endure grueling rehearsals and performances. We can research the archives of the Paris Opera, read accounts of visitors, and study the social history of ballet in France to understand the meaning of Degas's work more fully.