The ballerinas" costumes are mostly white, aside from the reddish pink ribbon or sash they each wear around their waists. All of the dancers in this class appear to have the same light brown hair and pale skin. The dancers all seem to be about the same age as well. Degas utilized both loose brush strokes and controlled brush strokes in The Ballet Class. The figures of the dancers, the chaperone, and the male teacher are all carefully and precisely drawn, while the dancer's tutus are made with more lively broad strokes. .
The American artist Mary Cassatt, a close friend and art student of Degas, is said to have played an important role in acquiring the commission for The Ballet Class, which was actually painted as a gift for one of Mary's brothers. .
As a former ballerina, I was overjoyed at the possibility of doing my research paper on one of Degas" brilliant art works. The hardest part was deciding which one to research. "Degas and the Dance" showcased many of Degas" visual delights, so the task of choosing which one to research was an overwhelming one. After much indecision and .
deliberation, I finally decided upon The Ballet Class. Although I have seen this particular painting many times before, I was inexplicably drawn to it because something about it just spoke to me. When observing The Ballet Class, it makes me feel like I am right there inside the painting, as if somehow I am removed from this current world and transported into that fascinating realm that Degas created in oil paint. Degas really captured the essence of the time period and the social context of the ballet as well. .
During the mid 1800's, the ballet was an integral part of the Parisian culture. During Degas" time, ballet was a female-dominated event. Attending the ballet as a subscriber was very fashionable. The subscribers were typically middle-aged men, and were usually allowed behind the scenes to watch the dancers practice.
