Edgar Degas Blue Dancers Analysis

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Seemingly redefined, art during the time period of Impressionism had astounding beauty, almost unseen at that time. Depicting light and movement on a canvas was a huge part of the Impressionist style. Artists started to use brighter colors, more casual poses, less harsh brushstrokes, and more graceful styles, as shown in Blue Dancers c. 1899 by Edgar Degas. Utilizing vibrant colors like blues, greens, and pinks, an unusual vantage point, and the depth created from the layering of pastels, Degas illustrates a stunning picture of graceful dancers getting ready for their ballet performance.
This two-foot-by-two-foot artwork, made from pastels, gouache, and watercolors utilizes a multitude of colors. In Blue Dancers, there are four ballerinas …show more content…

This piece contains darker shades of blue to create a dark, shadowy effect over the ballerinas. Even so, there are bright highlights on the dancers to enhance the sharpness and contrast of their figures. Colors like orange and peach are also highlight colors for the background behind the dancers. The main subjects of the artwork are wearing bright blue and white outfits to contrast with the more subdued greens and oranges of the background. Behind the dancers, Degas puts layers upon layers of pastel to create a realistic depth of color like that which one might experience in real life. The effect of this is quite stunning and adds a richness and intenseness to this piece.
This artwork has incredible beauty and exhibits the Impressionism era quite nicely. Impressionists tended to utilize more bold, vibrant colors than those artist of earlier times. Artists living during the Impressionism Era liked to experiment with unusual viewpoints, figures that were painted in casual poses rather than formal ones, and other ideas that were seemingly unheard of during the time period. Degas has shown all of these qualities of an Impressionist artists in Blue Dancers c. 1899 while still creating a stunning, timeless piece of art that will forever retain its extraordinary

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