One of Degas’ favourite subjects was ballet dancers preparing to go on stage. He repeated the theme many times, using various media—oil paints, pastels, and graphic works. The artist strove to capture the atmosphere behind the scenes and the tension before a performance, conveying this magical world through the dancers’ habitual poses.

Blue Dancers is perhaps the most appealing in its use of colour, which is distinguished by a rare harmony of line and tone. With artistic freedom, Degas uses simple movements to create a complex rhythm as captivating and compelling as the dance to be performed.

Trying to capture the fleeting moment, Degas often used photographs when he was painting. Three photographic negatives the artist made while working on this picture are preserved at the Bibliothèque Nationale in Paris.

Inventory number: Ж-3273