My favorite painting is called
The Dance Lesson, by Edgar Degas. I like this painting best because I have grown up around dance. When I was a little girl my sister was a dancer and I went to her practices as well as her recitals. The dance studio she went to was full of paintings of ballerinas, some of which were Degas. Later in my life I began to dance as well. At that point these pictures meant much more to me. I became those dancers. This painting is really a very interesting painting. The composition of the painting is that of a photographer, having things off center, as well as cut off. It seems as though the picture could continue on but didn't fit into the view finder. Degas does amazing things with his use of color, light and texture, not only individually but together. His color is mostly pastel but the use of bright colors helps to lead your eye around the painting. The perspective with the use of light and color give the painting depth and change the shade of the colors throughout the studio. The light also helps to give the painting texture and volume. Light is not the only thing that gives the tutu texture and volume, the brush strokes also help to give a plump vibe around the slim physique of the dancer. The brush strokes make the tutu seem more rough and fluffy by having shorter, firmer strokes. The way the dancer's tutu flows over the back of the chair is one way the artist creates volume in this painting.
