After 1870, Degas almost ceased to paint with oil, and the picture “Dancer with a photographer” presents a rare exception to this rule.
The pose of the ballerina was “caught” at the most disadvantageous moment for her – an unsuccessful arabesque made her do an arbitrary, obviously not intended for shooting on the camera, although she was just looking for a pose that would effectively be combined with her magnificent tunic, magnificent hairdo, and coquettish velvet on the neck.
In a cold, half-empty room, the fragile figure of a ballerina looks lonely and defenseless.
To this picture there is also a pencil drawing. There is an opinion that the first version of this picture was the work “Three Dancers”, created in 1873, where the extreme left ballerina and the one depicted on this canvas are very similar.
It is not known what time of day is depicted outside the window, but the picture among the contenders for the highest place among the artist’s works, where the charm of the transparent Parisian atmosphere in the twilight is masterfully transferred.
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