Prints & Drawings - 8 of 9
Hilaire Germain Edgar Degas
French, 1834-1917
Three Ballet Dancers
c. 1878-80
Monotype
20 x 41.7 cm
Acquired by Sterling and Francine Clark, 1922
1955.1386
Notes:
In Three Ballet Dancers, Edgar Degas explores the theme of ballet dancers in monotype, one of his preferred printmaking techniques starting in the mid-1870s. Degas completely covered an unworked metal plate with black printer's ink, then selectively wiped away the ink with a rag, pieces of gauze, a pointed instrument, and his own fingertips to make his design. He transferred the design to paper by running the plate through his printing press. The spotlit effect of Degas's dark field manner is particularly evocative of theatrical stage light.
