The Dance Class (La Classe de danse)
Painting on canvas • Edgar Degas (French, 1834–1917)
Style & Movement
Impressionism
Medium & Technique
Oil on canvas; utilize fine glazing and swift, sketch-like brushwork characteristic of the Impressionist style. The composition uses a high degree of spatial realism with a receding diagonal perspective.
Creation Period
Circa 1874
Dimensions & Format
83.5 x 77.2 cm (32 7/8 x 30 3/8 in); Landscape format
Subject Description
The scene depicts a ballet class at the Paris Opera conducted by the famous ballet master Jules Perrot. The composition is noted for its off-center perspective, showing ballerinas in various states of exhaustion and preparation, emphasizing the grueling reality of dance rather than just the performance.
Condition & Value Assessment
Condition Assessment
Excellent; the original work is housed in a museum setting and well-maintained.
Estimated Market Value
$40,000,000 - $60,000,000 (estimation based on museum status and historical sales of comparable Degas masterpieces)
Auction Estimate
$35,000,000 - $55,000,000
Provenance History
Commissioned by Jean-Baptiste Faure in 1873; part of the Harry Payne Bingham Collection; gifted to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in 1919.
Art Historical Significance
One of Degas' most ambitious and complex ballet compositions. It represents a focal point of his career-long obsession with the movement and 'behind-the-scenes' life of the Paris Opera dancers, blending traditional realism with innovative modern perspectives.
Notable Features
The presence of Jules Perrot, a legendary figure in Romantic ballet; the 'keyhole' perspective which makes the viewer feel like an unobserved intruder in the room.
Condition Issues
Minor age-related craquelure; historically documented minor varnish yellowing which has undergone professional conservation.
Conservation Recommendations
Maintain in a climate-controlled environment with strictly regulated UV lighting; no further treatment required beyond standard museum monitoring.