Edgar Degas (1834-1917) was an artist of the Impressionist Art Period (late 1800's).  He is known for his paintings and pastel drawings of ballet dancers.  Degas liked the movement of the human body and especially liked to portray dancers without posing them, as if looking through a keyhole.

The painting "The Ballet Dancers" painted in the late 1800's shows two dancers on stage.  Notice how the light is coming from the lower right hand corner.  Stage productions a hundred years ago had light at the front foot of the stage and were often oil lamps.  This shows a very dramatic lighting.  Degas is probably sitting high up in a balcony to achieve this painting.

Other works by Degas

Racehorses in a Landscape

Danseuses Beus 
(Blue Dancers)

The Dancers

Links to Artists

Racehorses in a Landscape

Danseuses Beus (Blue Dancers)

Links to Artists