Uploaded May 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
🩰 Many artists have admired ballerinas, but few have done more to celebrate their beauty than Edgar Degas. He captured them on pointe in practice studios, pirouetting on stage and — perhaps his favourite — backstage.
In this brilliant large-scale pastel, Degas’ four dancers are caught at rest in the wings of the Paris Opera. While the composition may depict multiple ballerinas in a single moment, some art historians argue that it’s a single dancer adopting different poses over time, like a film strip.
In this gallery talk, specialist Paige Kestenman shares how the artist’s mastery of medium and colour take centre stage in this dazzling spectacle. Degas plays peach bodices off cobalt-blue tutus, along with hints of lime green, pink and yellow — creating a dynamic contrast that captures the energy of dance itself.
🔗 Discover Degas’ fascination with the beauty of ballet: christies.com/en/lot/lot-6585791?ldp_breadcrumb=back&cid=EM_SM_O_YT_Inc_LDP___24265_2021CNY0525____VID__
📅 20th Century Evening Sale | New York | 18 May
🩰 Many artists have admired ballerinas, but few have done more to celebrate their beauty than Edgar Degas. He captured them on pointe in practice studios, pirouetting on stage and — perhaps his favourite — backstage.
In this brilliant large-scale pastel, Degas’ four dancers are caught at rest in the wings of the Paris Opera. While the composition may depict multiple ballerinas in a single moment, some art historians argue that it’s a single dancer adopting different poses over time, like a film strip.
In this gallery talk, specialist Paige Kestenman shares how the artist’s mastery of medium and colour take centre stage in this dazzling spectacle. Degas plays peach bodices off cobalt-blue tutus, along with hints of lime green, pink and yellow — creating a dynamic contrast that captures the energy of dance itself.
🔗 Discover Degas’ fascination with the beauty of ballet: christies.com/en/lot/lot-6585791?ldp_breadcrumb=back&cid=EM_SM_O_YT_Inc_LDP___24265_2021CNY0525____VID__
📅 20th Century Evening Sale | New York | 18 May
