The subject of the work is "The Ballet Class" by Edgar Degas. It depicts a scene from a ballet class with dancers rehearsing and practicing their moves. Degas used his signature drawing technique, which included sketching with graphite or charcoal and later adding layers of pastel colors to create soft and delicate textures. "The Ballet Class" tells the story of young ballerinas learning and perfecting their dance skills under the watchful eye of their instructor. The painting captures moments of concentration, gracefulness, and determination. Degas primarily used soft pastel colors in this artwork to portray the airy atmosphere associated with ballet studios. Shades of pale pinks, blues, greens, yellows are dominant in his color palette for this particular piece. This artwork was created using oil paint on canvas - a medium that allowed Degas to achieve rich texture and depth in his brushstrokes. The meaning behind "The Ballet Class" lies in capturing intimate glimpses into the world behind ballet performance; it showcases both beauty as well as rigorous training required by these dedicated artists.
Style
Edgar Degas was associated with Impressionism art movement during this period when he painted "The Ballet Class." His style incorporated elements such as loose brushwork, emphasis on light and color theory principles inspired by natural lighting conditions seen outdoors rather than relying purely on studio lighting sources. He also often depicted subjects from everyday life instead of traditional historical or mythological themes commonly found among academic painters at that time.