Danseuse, la jambe droite levée

In Danseuse, la jambe droite levée, the figure of the ballet dancer- the most emblematic of Degas’ subjects- is presented in the arabesque penché position. Requiring strength and suppleness, the artist’s eye is captivated by the dancer’s prowess; her leg, although held aloft in tension, remains in balance, rendering the pose both elegant and seemingly effortless. A fine example of Degas’ famed draughtsmanship, his own artistic adroitness is here declared as much as that of his model. Significantly influenced by the advent of photography, Degas composes his drawings with a quintessentially modern sense of immediacy and spontaneity.