Edgar Degas’ Little Dancer Aged Fourteen stands as a pivotal sculpture in art history, unveiled at the sixth impressionist exhibition in 1881. This was the only sculpture Degas ever publicly displayed, and it has since become an iconic and much-loved artwork, widely recognized through numerous bronze casts made after Degas’ death from the original wax figure. However, its initial reception was far from celebratory.
When the Little Dancer first appeared, critics were largely disapproving, almost universally deeming her ugly. Yet, they were compelled to acknowledge the sculpture’s striking realism and its groundbreaking approach. The innovative use of mixed media – a wax statuette adorned with real clothing – was particularly noteworthy. Beyond the technique, the subject matter itself was considered modern and somewhat controversial: a student dancer from the Paris Opera Ballet. Marie van Goethem, the model for the sculpture, embodied this reality. She was the daughter of a Belgian tailor and a laundress, and her working-class background was typical of the young women who populated the Paris Opera school’s ballet ranks.
These young dancers were known as “petits rats de l’opéra,” or “opera rats,” a nickname possibly derived from their quick, scurrying movements across the opera stage. However, the term also carried derogatory connotations of poverty and uncleanliness, reflecting the dancers’ often precarious social standing. Young, pretty, and impoverished, these ballet students were vulnerable and could become targets for wealthy male “protectors.” Degas keenly understood the delicate and challenging situation of the Little Dancer. As contemporary critic Joris-Karl Huysmans noted, the sculpture captured a “terrible reality.” Indeed, the Little Dancer is a deeply poignant and empathetic work of art. It portrays a fourteen-year-old girl who, despite her vulnerable position, strives for dignity. Her posture, with her head held high even as her arms are uncomfortably stretched behind her back, speaks volumes about her resilience.
Alt text: Edgar Degas’ Little Dancer Aged Fourteen sculpture, side profile view, showcasing the bronze cast with fabric tutu and ribbon, highlighting the realistic and poignant depiction of the young ballet dancer.
The Little Dancer Aged Fourteen holds a significant place in the evolution of sculpture. It championed the revolutionary idea that any medium or technique is valid if it serves to convey the artist’s intended effect. This liberating concept can be directly traced back to Degas’ groundbreaking work. By choosing a working-class subject, albeit one from the artistic world, and portraying her with both unflinching realism and compassion, Degas avoided moralizing sentimentality. He masterfully captured the complex tension between the idealized world of art and the often harsh realities of life, in a work of brilliant simplicity.
Alt text: Detailed close-up of the Little Dancer Aged Fourteen’s face, emphasizing the delicate features and the determined expression, reflecting the poignant reality captured by Degas in his sculpture.
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