Dancer Moving Forward, Arms Raised, Right Leg Forward (Second State)
Original title: Dancer Moving Forward, Arms Raised, Right Leg Forward (Second State)
kurzbeschreibung
A bronze figure of a naked dancer, modeled by Edgar Degas probably before 1900 and cast in 1920, steps forward with raised arms and one leg advanced. She belongs to the series of dance figures that occupied Degas throughout his life.
Description
The naked figure stands on a wooden base, which in turn rests on a metal support. Her right arm points upward, the left reaches forward, and the right leg is placed ahead. Side lighting creates hard contours and cast shadows that separate the body from the background. The pose feels as if it has been stopped mid-turn.
Context
Toward the end of his life, likely before 1900, Degas repeatedly turned to dance and worked on a series of dancers. During his lifetime they remained wax and plaster models; only after his death, in 1920, were bronzes cast. In these figures he studied how the human body behaves in action.
Impact
From the first glance, the tension of a movement that seems about to continue is communicated. The precisely modeled pose holds the viewer between stillness and dynamism; the side light reinforces the impression of a fleeting moment.
Technique
The figure was cast in bronze in 1920, after a wax or plaster model by Degas. The metal reproduces every modeling detail faithfully. The surface retains a fine texture that reveals muscles and the direction of movement.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)