← Edgar Degas

Dancer Adjusting the Shoulder Strap of Her Bodice

Original title: Dancer Adjusting the Shoulder Strap of Her Bodice

Artist

Edgar Degas

Date

modeled probably ca. 1896, cast 1920

Medium

Bronze

Dimensions

Overall: 14 × 6 5/16 × 4 in. (35.6 × 16 × 10.2 cm)

Credit line

H.O. Havemeyer Collection, Bequest of Mrs. H.O. Havemeyer, 1929

kurzbeschreibung

Edgar Degas modeled this bronze figure of a dancer adjusting her bodice strap. The model was probably made around 1896, and the cast was executed in 1920. Seen from the side, it captures a moment of movement and physical tension.

Description

In profile, a woman appears with her head tilted slightly back, her gaze directed toward her left arm. Both arms are busy adjusting the shoulder strap; her legs are slightly bent, showing the body's natural tension. The surface clearly reveals muscles and fabric folds. The bronze stands out against a plain white background, resting on a square base.

Context

This sculpture belongs to Degas's late years, when he repeatedly turned to dancers. The model was made around 1896, with the cast following posthumously in 1920—a sign that his sculptures were increasingly appreciated after his death. Degas worked in wax and clay before bronze casts were made from his models.

Impact

The arrested movement and the relaxed pose give the figure an immediate liveliness. The intimate act of adjusting the strap does not seem staged and lends the work a vulnerable, human note.

Technique

Executed as a bronze cast using the lost-wax method. The surface shows fine traces of modeling that recall the original treatment of the wax or clay.

AI-generated description text

Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)