Dancer on a Stage
- Artist: Edgar Germain Hilaire Degas
- Date: (circa) 1879
- Medium: gouache and metallic paint on silk
- Museum: The Courtauld Gallery
- Collection record: The Courtauld Gallery website
Listen to the free audio guide
About this artwork
This is “Dancer on a Stage” by Edgar Germain Hilaire Degas, painted around 1879. What makes this piece instantly striking is that it was originally part of a fan, which is why you notice that small, curving indentation in the upper right corner—an arc where the silk support of the fan was trimmed.
Degas layers gouache and metallic paint on silk to capture both the fleeting movement of the dancer and the theatrical glow of the set. The performer is set against a backdrop of a rocky shoreline with the sun setting over the water, a scene that feels almost like an unidentified ballet stage. The metallic pigments catch the light just as a spotlight would, enhancing the artificiality and performance vibe that Degas was so keen on exploring.
Notice how the metallic sheen doesn’t just add color; it hints at the constructed nature of dance and spectacle. The fan’s original function—a decorative yet functional object—mirrors the painting’s dual role as both art and performance prop. It’s a clever reminder that art can be both visual and performative, inviting us to consider the fleeting moments of grace that are captured forever on silk.
See it in person
Dancer on a Stage hangs in The Courtauld Gallery at Somerset House, London. Point your phone at any artwork there and audioguide.london plays a free audio guide in six languages — no app download needed.
