Voyeurism At The Ballet: Degas At The National Gallery

Drawn in Colour: Degas from the Burrell, The National Gallery ★★★☆☆

Tabish Khan
By Tabish Khan Last edited 78 months ago

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Voyeurism At The Ballet: Degas At The National Gallery Drawn in Colour: Degas from the Burrell, The National Gallery 3
Dancers stretch and prepare. This is the subject Degas is famous for. © CSG CIC Glasgow Museums Collection

Dancers stretch and prepare for the ballet seemingly unaware as we watch on as voyeurs. These are unmistakably the Impressionist paintings of Edgar Degas, best known for his depictions of ballet dancers.

Many of these paintings have come from the Burrell Collection in Glasgow, which has a large collection of Degas' works. So we're treated to works beyond the dancers, spying on a woman bathing and another having her hair combed.

We become the voyeur as a woman bathes. © CSG CIC Glasgow Museums Collection

Horses also make an appearance and it shows us that Degas was obsessed with movement in any form, but it was only in lithe dancers that he found a subject matter that truly captured his imagination.

Degas did also capture the movement of horses, but it was only in dancers that he found his true inspiration. © CSG CIC Glasgow Museums Collection

The paintings in this small show aren't masterpieces, with only a few standout works, but it's a great opportunity to see a wider range of Degas' works.

We are the watcher once more as a woman has her hair combed. © The National Gallery, London

Drawn in Colour: Degas from the Burrell at The National Gallery is on until 7 May. Entrance is free.

Last Updated 30 September 2017