Edgar Degas' L'Étoile or The Star
Edgar Degas painted The Star in Paris, France in 1878. Degas has many different pieces depicting different ballerinas in different settings. This one in particular speaks to me though.
Tone
The use of tone in this piece is one of the first things I noticed. The contrast between light and dark in this painting draws you to the obvious light shining star of the painting, the dancer. However the dark tones used for the almost ominous looking shadows and bodies waiting in the wings are also emphasized.
Texture
The physical texture of this painting is another element that I noticed. While the brush strokes seem almost erratic and frenzied, they also are very deliberate. The background that makes up for the wings of the stage against the backdrop are angled very deliberately to give the appearance of distance, and very delicately shield the bodies of fellow dancers waiting or observing in the wings.
Lines
I find Degas' ability to capture the natural movement of the dancer to be particularly mesmerizing, specifically in the dancer's hands. He has perfectly illustrated the lightness and delicateness that is the hand position of a ballet dancer. As well as how he painted her head tilted sightly back just conveying the confidence of a prima ballerina. The ripples in the little tassels attached to her choker also show the movement of the ballerina.
Works Cited
I really like this piece, it gives off a very eerie vibe. Especially the figures watching the prima ballerina that look like they're about to be covered by something in the background. I took me a few glances to even realize there are four people watching her in the back, as she takes all the attention. And what I like about the prima ballerina is how despite mostly being painted with white, you can still see all this detail in her dress and her features.
ReplyDeleteAnother piece you might be intersted in that gives off a similar eerie atmosphere is Christina's World by Andrew Wyeth
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