Dancer Turning c. 1876

Edgar Degas made this drawing, Dancer Turning, using charcoal and pastel on paper. These are traditional materials, but Degas was anything but traditional in his process. Look closely, and you’ll see the vigorous lines used to capture the dancer's movement. Charcoal is a subtractive medium – you can easily wipe it away. Degas exploited this quality, layering and reworking the image to convey the energy of the performance. The pastel adds subtle color and texture, further animating the scene. Degas was fascinated by the ballet, not just as a spectacle, but as a form of labor. He was interested in the skill and the sheer repetition it took to achieve these fleeting moments of grace. In this drawing, Degas used the inherent qualities of charcoal and pastel to give us a glimpse behind the scenes, to capture the dancer's effort and determination. The drawing reminds us that art isn't just about the final product, but also the process, the materials, and the social context in which it was made.