Tight-Rope Walker c. 1885

Jean-Louis Forain, a contemporary of Degas, painted this scene of a tightrope walker against a dark blue sky. The painting evokes the spectacle of Parisian nightlife with gendered themes. The woman high above embodies the courage and spectacle of such performances, her tutu and bright top set her apart from the blurred crowd below. The men below are in darker colors and their gaze seems transfixed on the performer. In the late 19th century, the circus and similar entertainments became important sites where gender roles were both reinforced and subverted. The ballerina was a common subject, she represented an idealized vision of femininity that also acknowledged women's physical strength and artistry. The contrast between the active performer and the passive audience raises questions about who is on display and what the audience expects to see. Forain invites us to reflect on the relationships between performer and spectator, skill and spectacle, risk and reward.