master painting essay
...e picture is very dim and the colors are, although not very bright or vibrant, extremely rich and full of texture. Degas used a specific composition to place the dancer somewhat in the corner of the scene, she seems to be emerging out of the shadows, her face is unrecognizable and her hair blends into the walls with her legs and the rest of her body. It looks almost as if Degas used black ink to create thin, sketchy lines, detailing the folds and seams of the dancer’s dress. This gives the continued idea of movement and flow. The elements of line and composition lead the viewer’s eye over the picture. In addition to elements such as line, composition, texture, and color, Degas also uses the element of value very proficiently and has it play into the mood of the piece as well as the visual aspect of it. I love Degas’ paintings of ballet dancers. It seems like he is just a fly on the wall, intimately observing at all periods in time. I think that you can’t just look at one of his dancers, in order to appreciate t...