Color lithograph, heavy vellum paper 45 x 34 cm (composition), 70 x 50 cm (sheet), limited edition, numbered in pencil 45/300, signed on plate p.g. Degas, facsimile signature "Degas" p.d. under composition; publisher's dry stamp: Donald Art Co inc. NY 1962 l.d.; "verification of authenticity" hologram on back. Original certificate.
The painting "Two Dancers at the Bar" is one of Edgar Degas' many works depicting ballet dancers. Degas was fascinated by ballet and often used this motif in hiswork, andcreated many similar works, including "Dancers" from 1896,whichis in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
Edgar Degas,owned by Hilaire-Germain-Edgar de Gas - FrenchImpressionist painter andsculptor. Hisinventive composition, excellent line work andability to depict figures in motioncontributedto his recognition as one ofthe greatest painters ofthe late 19th century.Degaswasfamous for his unusual perspectiveshots,whichallowedhim tocapturethe the life of the modern city and itsinhabitants. In his works,he oftenexplored thetheme of ballet,showingdancers inperformance, practice or backstage at the theater. His paintings of dancers are characterized by an intense color palette and dynamicuse of lines, giving thema sense of movement and life.
Degasoftenused pastel,whichallowed him toachievesoftyetintensecolors. His worksare revered for their subtle capture of moments, emotions and the atmosphere of the ballet world, aswell as their innovativeapproach to composition and form.
The painting "Dancers at the Barre" perfectly illustrates hisability toexpressemotionthrough medium and color,surpassingtherationalityof subject matter and composition. The motif of the dancer with herlegraised on the barappears in hisworkas early asthe mid 1870s and continues untilaround 1900.
Edgar Degas' works are scattered around the world in many famous museums and galleries:Muséed'Orsay inParishasone ofthe largest collections of Degas' works, the Metropolitan Museum of Art. in New York and the Cleveland Museum of Art. His workscanalsobefound in private collections and art auctionsaround the world.
The mostexpensiveEdgar Degas paintingto be sold is "Danseuse au repos" from 1879. Itreacheda price of$37millionat an auction at Sotheby's inNew Yorkin 2008. This event set asalesrecordforworks by this artist.
