# Yellow Dancers (In the Wings)

**Edgar Degas** (French, 1834–1917)  
1874–76  
Oil on canvas  
73.5 × 59.5 cm (28 15/16 × 23 7/16 in.); Framed: 91.5 × 78.2 × 7 cm (36 × 30 3/4 × 2 3/4 in.)

Courtesy of the Art Institute of Chicago, 1963.923. [The museum's record](https://www.artic.edu/artworks/18951).

## About this work

Edgar Degas first painted dancers as an independent subject in 1871. He would go on to devote almost half his output as an artist to this subject, observing countless performances and rehearsals at the Paris Opéra. Here, he placed the viewer in the wings, as if among the elite opera subscribers who paid for the privilege to roam and socialize backstage.

_Text from the Art Institute of Chicago._

Edgar Degas painted this in 1874–76, aged about 40. It is now at the Art Institute of Chicago.

### What you’re looking at

Three light-skinned, dark-haired ballerinas, painted in muted tones, wear off-the-shoulder yellow leotards and tutus as they huddle near each other. One adjusts her costume, while one holds her hands clasped above her head. At left is a painted screen with four pairs of feet visible underneath.

_Description from the Art Institute of Chicago._

### How it was made

- **Oil paint.** Pigment ground in a drying oil, usually linseed. It dries slowly, so painters could blend on the canvas, build up thin translucent glazes, and rework a picture over weeks. Canvas replaced wooden panels in the 1500s because it is lighter and can be rolled.

### [Edgar Degas](https://www.ochreeditions.com/artists/edgar-degas)

French, 1834–1917; born in Paris; died in Paris

Degas trained in the academic tradition, admired Ingres and spent three years in Italy copying earlier art, but turned to modern Paris for his subjects: dancers, racecourses, laundresses, milliners and café singers. He helped organise the Impressionist exhibitions and showed in all but one, yet preferred to call himself a realist. Working from drawing and memory rather than outdoors, he composed with unexpected cropping and viewpoints, and in later years worked mostly in pastel as his eyesight failed.

_Written by Ochre Editions._

## Facts

- Type: Painting
- Culture: France
- The artist was about 40
- Real size: about 29 × 23 in (73 × 59 cm). The 20 × 30 in print is close to life size.
- Century: 19th century
- Movement: [Impressionism](https://www.ochreeditions.com/movements/impressionism)
- Subjects: ballet, French, France, screen, costume, dresses, flowers, yellow (color)
- Colour: brown
- Rights: public domain (CC0 1.0); free to use for any purpose.

## Get it

- Free download, full resolution: https://img.ochreeditions.com/m/71.jpg?dl=1
- Image: https://img.ochreeditions.com/a/71/1920.jpg
- Giclée reproduction on Hahnemühle Photo Rag: 8 × 10 in $28; 11 × 14 in $38; 12 × 16 in $42; 16 × 20 in $56; 18 × 24 in $68; 20 × 30 in $86; 24 × 36 in $108; 30 × 40 in $148
- Framed reproduction: 8 × 10 in $78; 11 × 14 in $98; 12 × 16 in $108; 16 × 20 in $138; 18 × 24 in $164; 20 × 30 in $208; 24 × 36 in $258; 30 × 40 in $338
- Canvas reproduction: 8 × 10 in $58; 11 × 14 in $72; 12 × 16 in $79; 16 × 20 in $98; 18 × 24 in $118; 20 × 30 in $148; 24 × 36 in $178; 30 × 40 in $228
- Print-ready file: 8 × 10 in $2; 11 × 14 in $2; 12 × 16 in $3; 16 × 20 in $3; 18 × 24 in $3; 20 × 30 in $5; 24 × 36 in $5; 30 × 40 in $5

Sizes stop where the museum's file would print below 150 pixels per inch. Everything sold is a reproduction, made to order. [Order a print](https://www.ochreeditions.com/art/yellow-dancers-in-the-wings-aic-18951).