Dancer Holding Her Right Foot in Her Right Hand
Original title: Dancer Holding Her Right Foot in Her Right Hand
kurzbeschreibung
Edgar Degas modeled this bronze sculpture, 'Dancer Holding Her Right Foot in Her Right Hand,' probably between 1900 and 1910 as a wax figure; it was cast in bronze in 1920. The naked female figure strikes a dance-like pose and belongs to a series of studies Degas devoted to dance.
Description
A woman stands upright, lifting her right leg and grasping her right foot with her right hand. Her left arm extends forward, while her right arm holds the leg. The figure rests on a rough, irregular base that suggests natural ground. The pose feels animated and dance-like, with a clear emphasis on balance and movement. The black-and-white image points to a historical photograph; the neutral background highlights the sculpture's silhouette.
Context
During a phase in which Degas focused intensely on dance, he produced numerous studies of dancers in various poses. After the artist's death in 1917, the founder Adrien Hébrard made an edition of bronze casts from wax models. These bronzes brought Degas's sculptural work to a wider public, since few sculptures had been exhibited during his lifetime.
Impact
The work conveys a fragile balance of grace and effort, characteristic of Degas's dancers. The irregular surface of the bronze and the animated pose create an immediate, lively presence that holds the viewer's attention. With all accessories absent—the naked figure without stage props—body posture and movement take center stage.
Technique
The sculpture was cast in bronze from an original wax model. The lost-wax casting process preserves the finest surface details. The uneven texture of the base and figure reveals traces of modeling and gives the work a spontaneous, sketch-like quality.
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Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)