Fan Mount: The Ballet
Original title: Fan Mount: The Ballet
kurzbeschreibung
In 1879, Edgar Degas created "Das Ballett" as a fan leaf, translating a dance scene onto a semicircular silk fan. The work is executed in watercolor and metallic paint on silk and measures 15.6 × 54 cm.
Description
Dancers in traditional costumes move gracefully across a stage set within a dramatically lit landscape. Black fan sticks remain visible at the edges, standing out against the figures. Black, grey, and metallic tones dominate the dark palette, evoking a classical, elegant impression.
Context
The fan leaf dates from 1879, when Degas repeatedly turned to ballet subjects. Fans were part of Parisian social life at the time, and Degas used this unusual support for his scenes. Metallic paint on silk testifies to his engagement with materials. During this period, he increasingly adopted pastel and other media for his ballet pictures.
Impact
The dark coloring with metallic accents gives the fan a noble, almost nocturnal aura. The lively poses of the dancers bring movement and tension to the image, while the fan shape frames the subject in a decorative yet artistically serious arrangement.
Technique
Watercolor and metallic paint on silk — a common procedure for fan leaves. The silk ground demanded a confident brushstroke, and the metallic pigments create a shimmering effect. The semicircular shape of the fan dictated how the figures could be arranged.
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Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)