Processing
Oil pictography on canvas ‘Retouch’ category, prepared with natural chalk primer and glue. Retouching with spatula and brush. Use of magnifying glass for details and Maimeri and Winsor & Newton colours. Carved solid wood frame, bole preparation and gold leaf gilding. Framed painting dimensions: 80x59 cm.
History
The Swinging Dancer, also known as Dancer in Green, is a fragment of elegance and dynamism. The young dancer, caught in a moment of transition, leans gracefully, the vaporous tutu accompanying her movement. Degas does not immortalise the perfection of the stage, but the backstage, the moment of concentration and effort, making the scene incredibly alive. A great observer, the artist ceaselessly studied the dancers in theatres and rehearsal rooms, often using pastel to capture the rapidity of gesture. Here, the soft green of the costume harmonises with the play of light and shadow, rendering a vibrant, almost musical atmosphere, as if the painting itself were dancing along with its protagonist.
Edgar Degas, Dancer in Green (RETOUCH)