The Dance Lesson by Edgar Degas. A young ballerina in a white tutu with a red bow practices at a barre while a man in the foreground plays the violin.

The Dance Lesson

Edgar Degas

1879 · Paper, Pastel

An intimate and masterfully composed scene of a young ballerina accompanied by a violinist, captured in Edgar Degas's signature Impressionist style.

$243

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From $129

1 frame size

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Made to order in ~2 business days · Free U.S. standard shipping (typically 5–8 business days after dispatch)

Where it works

A quiet, grounding work with warm, lived-in color — sits comfortably in a more formal setting.

Often works in
Bedroom · Living Room · Study
Placement
Reads naturally where the wall has more height than width
Walls
Reads strongest when the wall gives it contrast
Color notes
Warm beige, Charcoal black, Olive green

About the piece

Created around 1879, this pastel on paper by Edgar Degas captures a quiet moment of a dance rehearsal. A young dancer in a luminous white tutu focuses on her form at the barre, while the foreground is dominated by the focused presence of a violinist providing the rhythm. Degas's innovative use of an asymmetric perspective and soft, layered textures makes this an iconic example of late 19th-century French art.

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