The artwork entitled “Dancer with Raised Arms” is a pastel on paper created by the French artist Edgar Degas in 1891. This piece is categorized as a genre painting within the Impressionism movement. As of the latest information available, this work is held in a private collection. It captures the ephemeral beauty of a dancer in motion, which is a recurring theme in Degas’s oeuvre.
The artwork is an exquisite representation of a dancer poised gracefully with her arms lifted above her head. The figure is depicted mid-dance, which gives a sense of movement and spontaneity—a characteristic element of the Impressionist style. Her attire, a ballet tutu, is rendered with vibrant speckles of color, mimicking the effect of light playing across the fabric. The pastel medium allows for soft yet vivid hues and a degree of texture that enlivens the composition. The background is abstract and suggestive, providing a dreamy, atmospheric backdrop that focuses the viewer’s attention on the dynamic form of the dancer. Degas’s mastery in portraying the intricate postures and sublime poise of ballet dancers is evident in this artwork.
