Dancer Bending Forward 1874 - 1879

Edgar Degas made this charcoal and pastel drawing, Dancer Bending Forward, to explore the world of ballet dancers in late 19th-century France. These dancers, often from working-class backgrounds, found themselves under the intense gaze of a predominantly male, upper-class audience. Degas' work captures a poignant, behind-the-scenes moment, revealing the physical strain and discipline required of these young women. You can almost feel the dancer's exhaustion as she bends forward. The ballet was a space where gender and class dynamics were on full display, the drawing captures the complex interplay of dreams, labor, and spectacle that defined the lives of these dancers. It invites us to consider their experiences beyond the stage.