Dancers on the Scenery 1889

Edgar Degas’s “Dancers on the Scenery” is an interesting example of oil paint on canvas, likely made in the late 19th century. Though it's difficult to analyze the material constituents, the visual language of painting is front and center. Degas’s rough handling of oil paint and his focus on the theme of ballet have social and cultural significance. The ballet dancers in the scenery suggest the physical labor and rigorous training hidden behind graceful performances. The work invites us to consider the nature of work, class, and spectacle in the 19th-century. The artist's method of using rough brushwork and a somewhat drab palette has imbued the artwork with social awareness. By shifting the focus from idealized beauty to the material conditions of labor, Degas's painting challenges traditional notions of art. It invites viewers to consider the human effort and societal structures that make such spectacles possible.