National Gallery showcased Degas paintings about opera

Venue: National Gallery of Art, Washington D.C
Dates: March 1 – July 5, 2020

Throughout his long artistic career, Degas loved painting the Paris Opera and everything to do with the Opera. He painted the auditorium, the stage, boxes & foyers. Behind the scenes, he loved capturing the dancers, singers and orchestral musicians rehearsing. He also painted the audience. This is the exhibition not only provides a comprehensive collection of Edgar Degas artworks but also gives the viewer a glimpse into the life of 19th century Paris through the Paris Opera microcosm.

This beautiful exhibition is celebrating the 350 year anniversary of the Paris Opéra. The exhibition was first on display in Paris and has now moved to Washington D.C.

“This is the first comprehensive exhibition to explore the significance of the Paris Opera for the Degas. The opera has spawned some of the most daring technical innovations of the Degas, including its wax sculpture “The Little Fourteen-year-old dancer,” said Kaywin Feldman, director of the gallery.

The exhibition in Washington is a continuation of the eponymous project at the Orsay Museum in Paris. The gallery and museum have combined their collections of the Degas to give viewers a complete picture of its close relationship with the theatre. The exhibition features such famous canvases as “The Dance Class“, “The Choristers” and “The Curtain“.