The Dance Class

About The Dance Class

Degas's The Dance Class of 1874 looks at dancers rehearsing rather than performing on stage. Figures rest, adjust their clothing and listen in a spacious room. The diagonal floor and scattered poses make the scene feel observed in passing, even as they guide our view through the composition. This painting belongs to the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Look closely

Compare the dancers' different postures and follow the diagonal floorboards toward the back of the room. Who seems attentive, tired or distracted?

Download and print this artwork

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Image source and reuse

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