Hilaire-Germain-Edgar Degas, French, 1834-1917 – The Ballet Class Philadelphia Museum of Art

The composition presents a scene within what appears to be a ballet studio. A group of young girls, clad in pale pink and white tutus, are engaged in a dance lesson. The instructor, positioned on the left side of the frame, demonstrates a pose, her body angled towards the students. Several other girls mirror her stance, while one stands with arms raised, seemingly awaiting instruction.
The artist has chosen an unconventional perspective; the viewpoint is slightly elevated and off-center, lending a sense of immediacy to the observation. The studio itself seems sparsely furnished, with a large window providing light and offering a glimpse of urban architecture beyond. This external view introduces a layer of context – the world outside the disciplined space of the ballet class.
A woman seated in a chair occupies the lower right corner of the painting. She is absorbed in reading a newspaper, her posture suggesting a detached observation of the scene unfolding before her. Her attire – a richly patterned blue dress and a wide-brimmed hat – indicates a position of relative affluence and social standing. The presence of this spectator introduces an element of voyeurism; she acts as a surrogate for the viewer, observing the ritualistic nature of ballet training.
The color palette is dominated by muted tones – pale pinks, whites, yellows, and browns – which contribute to a sense of quiet formality. However, the artist employs subtle variations in tone to capture the play of light across the wooden floor and the girls’ costumes. The brushwork is loose and impressionistic, conveying movement and capturing fleeting moments rather than striving for photographic realism.
Subtly embedded within this depiction are questions about childhood, discipline, and social class. The young dancers appear vulnerable and exposed in their practice attire, highlighting the rigorous demands of ballet training. The woman’s detached observation suggests a distance between the world of privilege and the dedication required to pursue artistic excellence. The painting does not celebrate the spectacle of performance; instead, it focuses on the often-unseen labor and discipline that underpin it. It is an exploration of a moment in time, capturing both the beauty and the underlying complexities of this particular social setting.