The Dance Class (La Classe de danse)
Painting on canvas • Edgar Degas (1834–1917)
Style & Movement
Impressionism (with a focus on Realism and Japanese-inspired cropping)
Medium & Technique
Oil on canvas, utilizing delicate brushwork, thin glazes, and Degas' characteristic 'snapshot' composition with precise linear draftsmanship and atmospheric light.
Creation Period
Circa 1874
Dimensions & Format
Approximately 82.2 x 74.3 cm (32 3/8 x 29 1/4 in.); Landscape-oriented rectangle with a steep perspective.
Subject Description
The scene depicts a group of ballet dancers at the end of a lesson with their instructor, Jules Perrot, at the old Paris Opéra. The composition is famously off-center, leading the eye from the dancer in the foreground with the green sash back toward the aging maestro. It captures candid, unidealized moments: dancers stretching, adjusting their costumes, or resting.
Condition & Value Assessment
Condition Assessment
Excellent. The original painting is part of a major museum collection (Metropolitan Museum of Art) and is meticulously maintained.
Estimated Market Value
Invaluable / $150 million - $200 million+ (as a seminal museum masterpiece and cornerstone of Impressionism).
Auction Estimate
Estimated at $120 million - $180 million if it were ever to appear on the open market.
Provenance History
Commissioned by Jean-Baptiste Faure in 1874; later acquired by the French dealer Durand-Ruel; eventually entered the collection of Harry Payne Bingham, who gifted it to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in 1919.
Art Historical Significance
This is one of Degas' most ambitious and complex ballet scenes. It illustrates his mastery of movement and human form through the lens of modern Parisian life. It bridged the gap between classical draftsmanship and the radical new perspectives of the Impressionist movement.
Notable Features
Features the notable ballet master Jules Perrot. The floorboards are painted with a steep receding perspective to create depth. The use of a large empty space in the center-right is a hallmark of Degas' interest in Japanese ukiyo-e prints.
Condition Issues
Stable. Presence of natural age-related craquelure and minor varnish yellowing which is consistent with its age. Original canvas has likely been lined in the past.
Conservation Recommendations
Continued climate-controlled environment (50% RH, 70°F), UV-filtered lighting (maximum 50 lux), and protective glazing for public display.