Dancer Putting on Her Stockings (Second State)
Original title: Dancer Putting on Her Stockings (Second State)
kurzbeschreibung
A dancer balances on one leg, the other lifted, and bends forward to pull a stocking over her foot. Edgar Degas modeled this bronze sculpture, probably around 1900; the cast was made in 1920. It belongs to his late works dealing with ballet.
Description
Naked and poised, the dancer stands on one leg while the other is raised, her upper body leaning forward, hands at the stocking. The body's forms and muscles are precisely worked out, making the movement look natural. The bronze is shiny and shows slight signs of wear that point to the time it was made. A square bronze base supports the figure.
Context
Degas made numerous sculptures of dancers, many of which were cast in bronze only after his death. The present work was probably modeled around 1900, but the cast was made in 1920—after Degas died in 1917. It joins a group that reflects his lifelong interest in movement and the ballet world. The history of the wax models and their later transfer into bronze has been scholarly researched.
Impact
The viewer witnesses a fleeting, private moment, emphasized by the nudity and the unusual pose. The balance and the shiny surface create a tension between movement and pause that holds the gaze.
Technique
The sculpture was cast in bronze, a material valued for its durability and its ability to capture fine details. The surface has a shiny patina from the casting and subsequent working. The casting process preserved the fine modeling of the original wax model.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)