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Dancers in the Rehearsal Room with a Double Bass

ca. 1882–85
On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 815

Degas used an elongated frieze format for more than forty rehearsal scenes made over the course of two decades. This is one of the first such works; it was preceded by The Dance Lesson (ca. 1879, National Gallery of Art, Washington). Here, the angled wall in the foreground sets off the striking juxtaposition of a double bass and a seated dancer, bent over to tie the laces of her slipper. Technical analysis reveals that Degas painted the complex composition in virtually a single campaign with only minor revisions.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Dancers in the Rehearsal Room with a Double Bass
  • Artist: Edgar Degas (French, Paris 1834–1917 Paris)
  • Date: ca. 1882–85
  • Medium: Oil on canvas
  • Dimensions: 15 3/8 x 35 1/4 in. (39.1 x 89.5 cm)
  • Classification: Paintings
  • Credit Line: H. O. Havemeyer Collection, Bequest of Mrs. H. O. Havemeyer, 1929
  • Object Number: 29.100.127
  • Curatorial Department: European Paintings

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Huit Sonnets. . .Illustré de dix-nuef dessins inédits de Edgar Degas
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Seated Woman in Bonnet and Shawl, Edgar Degas French, Aquatint, drypoint, and etching; printed from canceled plate
Seated Woman in Bonnet and Shawl
Edgar Degas
ca. 1879
At the Café des Ambassadeurs, Edgar Degas French, Etching, softground, drypoint, and aquatint; fifth (final) state; canceled plate
At the Café des Ambassadeurs
Edgar Degas
1879–80
Greek Landscape, Edgar Degas French, Etching (only state; impression from cancelled plate)
Greek Landscape
Edgar Degas
1856
On Stage III, Edgar Degas French, Softground etching,drypoint, and roulette on wove paper; fourth state of five
On Stage III
Edgar Degas
1876–77

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