Dancers in Ukrainian Dress

This large pastel on tracing paper is one in a series of studies of dancers in traditional Ukrainian folk dress undertaken by Degas in 1899. The costumes, drawn in multiple touches of high-keyed color, are reminiscent of those worn by performers at Ukrainian weddings at the turn of the twentieth century. Like a master choreographer, Degas deftly orchestrates the rhythms and movements of these spirited dancers, testing their imagery in pastel, charcoal or a combination of both throughout the series. This sheet was likely sketched in light charcoal, after which the thin, faint lines were reinforced with a thicker, darker charcoal, and then pastel was applied to the underdrawing.

Julie Manet, Edouard Manet’s niece, visited Degas’s studio in July 1899, a rare invitation to see his work in progress. She notes her delight upon seeing his pastels of folk dancers, a project Degas described as his "orgies of color." Her costume notations in the diary align with those in the present pastel.