Study in the Nude for The Little Fourteen-Year-Old Dancer 1873 - 1920

Editor: Here we have Degas's bronze sculpture, *Study in the Nude for The Little Fourteen-Year-Old Dancer,* thought to be cast between 1873 and 1920. It’s surprisingly evocative. The pose is so specific, almost defiant. What do you see in this piece? Curator: Immediately, I’m drawn to the contrast between the sculpture's textured surface and the smooth, almost yearning upward gaze of the dancer. Bronze, through time, becomes a palimpsest, acquiring layers of meaning. Degas is using her youth to talk about something more universal. Do you notice anything about the direction she seems to be looking? Editor: Yes, she is looking upward. It makes her seem hopeful but maybe a little vulnerable too? Is she looking up to the light, to something or someone outside the frame? Curator: Exactly. The upward gaze is a potent symbol across cultures, evoking aspiration, spirituality, even escapism. But look at the rawness of the bronze itself – the seeming unfinished quality. This hints at the grueling nature of dance training, perhaps even societal pressures, acting upon this young woman's body. How does the title, with its precise age, inform your viewing? Editor: Knowing she’s only fourteen makes me really uncomfortable, actually. It emphasizes how her youth is being put on display and reinforces that tension between innocence and expectation that you were talking about. Curator: Indeed. It complicates the narrative. Degas doesn't offer easy answers; rather, he presents a figure burdened with the symbolic weight of her time, inviting us to question what we project onto her. What do you take away from considering these layers? Editor: I realize that, beneath its surface, this sculpture captures conflicting desires and expectations. Thanks, I’ll certainly think of this in a different way now! Curator: Absolutely, considering the interplay of surface and symbol helps unlock richer, more meaningful interpretations.