Created from high-quality wood, milled with simple clean lines and presented with a satin finish. Includes an off-white mount that will not discolour or fade with age. - Simple, elegant design - Premium, fine art paper with a gently textured surface - Handmade by specialist picture framers - FSC certified off-white mat / window mount - Delivered ready for hanging

"Dancers, Pink and Green" epitomizes Edgar Degas' profound interest in the world of ballet, a recurring theme in his oeuvre. The painting captures a candid moment backstage, where dancers in vibrant tutus—primarily hues of pink and green—actively prepare for their performance. The choice of such lively colors creates a dynamic contrast and brings vitality to the scene.

The composition is both structured and spontaneous, revealing Degas' commitment to portraying the authenticity and behind-the-scenes reality of the ballet world. The dancers are arranged in varied poses and stances, some adjusting their costumes, others conversing or attending to last-minute details. The sense of movement is palpable, achieved through Degas' use of loose brushwork and layered textures. This technique lends a feeling of immediacy and fluidity, inviting viewers to feel almost as if they are intruding upon an intimate, fleeting moment.

One of the notable features of this painting is Degas' innovative use of perspective and cropping. The composition is cropped in a way that creates a sense of continuity beyond the canvas borders, suggesting a larger, busier space filled with activity. The paintings in the background and the way the figures overlap contribute to a multi-dimensional experience.

Edgar Degas is renowned for his distinct approach to Impressionism, though he often diverged from its purest forms. In "Dancers, Pink and Green," his technique straddles both Impressionism and Realism. His focus on the effects of light and color aligns with Impressionist ideals, yet his careful detail in portraying the human form and the textures of the costumes echoes Realist precision.

The brushwork in "Dancers, Pink and Green" is remarkably varied, with some areas of the canvas exhibiting delicate, almost opaque layers of paint, while others are built up with more tactile, textured applications. Degas' use of pastels is particularly evident in the softer, blended edges, adding an ethereal quality to the dancers' tutus.

Degas' fascination with dancers spanned much of his career, and his works on this subject are among his most celebrated. The artist produced a vast number of drawings, pastels, sculptures, prints, and paintings of ballet dancers, each exploring different aspects of their art and their world. This painting falls into the later period of his career, around 1890, when his eyesight was beginning to fail, and his strokes started to become bolder and more expressive as a result.

"Dancers, Pink and Green" exemplifies Degas' shift towards more vibrant, expressive colors and dynamic compositions in his later years. It reflects his ongoing interest in capturing movement and exploring the boundaries of color and form.

Edgar Degas (1834–1917) was a seminal figure in the Impressionist movement, though he preferred to be independent from any strict art labels. His work is characterized by its psychological complexity, its innovative compositions, and his mastery in portraying movement. Dance, theatre, and everyday scenes were recurrent themes in his work, often providing a window into the private, off-stage world of performance.

Degas' methods and themes were both revolutionary and reflective of his academic training and classical influences. His works offer a nuanced approach that incorporates elements of Japanese prints, photography, and an acute observation of human behavior.

- Degas' innovative cropping techniques were influenced by the burgeoning field of photography and Japanese ukiyo-e prints, both of which offered new ways of depicting space and capturing moments in time.
- The painting does not simply glorify the dancers but offers a more grounded, candid view of their world, countering the glamorous image commonly associated with ballet.
- The textured application of paint and use of vibrant color became more pronounced in Degas' later works, as seen in this painting, indicative of his evolving style and response to his failing vision.

"Dancers, Pink and Green" resides in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, where it continues to captivate audiences with its dynamic portrayal of the ballet world and Degas' masterful approach to capturing the nuance of human movement and emotion.