Western Art Movements I Art Movements    

Lesson 29: Impressionism - The Ballet Class (1871-1874)

by Edgar Degas

Directions

Study the artwork for one week.

Over the week:

• Examine the artwork.
• Read the synopsis.
• Study the vocabulary words.
• Recite the artist and artwork names.
• Read about the artwork's movement.
• Complete the enrichment activities.
• Discuss the review questions.

Synopsis

Impressionism rose to prominence for a short time, circa 1870s-1890s. Like realism, impressionism focused on common subjects engaging in everyday life. Unlike realists, impressionists used thin, visible brush strokes to convey movement and formulate gauzy impressions of their subjects. Impressionists also often painted outdoors, seeking to capture the play of sunlight. Although critics and the public rejected impressionistic works at first, affection for the style grew and the popularity of these works has persisted into modern times. The first Impressionist work, 'The Ballet Class,' was painted by Edgar Degas between 1871-1874. This painting shows a group of ballerinas being instructed by Jules Perrot, who holds a stick to beat time. The rehearsal room is located in the Paris Opera. In the far back, ballerinas, some sitting with their mothers, await their turn to dance. The visible brush strokes of color reveal the impressionistic nature of the work.

Vocabulary

Impressionist: An art style featuring thin, visible brush strokes of color.
Ballet: A theatrical presentation of such dancing, usually with music, sometimes in the form of a story.
Opera: A theatrical work, combining drama, music, song and sometimes dance.
Paris Opera: A building in Paris, France designed for the performance of operas.

Concepts

Featured Movement:

1. Name - Impressionism
2. Timeline - approximately 1870s-1890s

Impressionism Characteristics and Subjects:

1. Everyday Life ('Hay Harvest at Éragny' by Camille Pissarro in 1901)

2. Visible Strokes of Color ('The Boulevard Montmartre at Night' by Camille Pissarro in 1897)

3. Play of Light ('Haystacks, (Sunset)' by Claude Monet in 1891)

4. Painted Outdoors (Real sand embedded in paint in 'Beach at Scheveningen in Stormy Weather' by Vincent van Gogh in 1882)

Enrichment

Activity 1: Can You Find It?

Find the following in the artwork:

• Ballet Master Instructor
• Ballerinas
• Mothers
• Ballet Shoes
• Tutus
• Someone Sitting on a Piano
• Wooden Stick
• Mirror
• Something Used to Beat Time

Activity 2: Narrate the Artwork

• After studying the artwork, narrate the scene shown aloud using your own words.

Activity 3: Classify the Artwork

• This artwork belongs to the Impressionist art movement.
• Find Impressionism on the timeline.
• During which (estimated) years did Impressionism flourish?
• Which art movement preceded Impressionism?
• Which art movement followed Impressionism?

Activity 4: Recreate the Artwork   

• Click the crayon above and complete page 32 of 'Fourth Grade Art History Coloring Book.'

Review

Question 1

Who are the characters in the artwork?

1 / 5

Answer 1

The characters are ballerinas, their mother, and the ballet master, Jules Perrot.

1 / 5

Question 2

What is the setting of the artwork?

2 / 5

Answer 2

The setting is a rehearsal room at the Paris Opera.

2 / 5

Question 3

To which western art movement does this painting belong?

3 / 5

Answer 3

This painting belongs to the Impressionist art movement.

3 / 5

Question 4

How is this painting reflective of Impressionism?

4 / 5

Answer 4

This work was constructed with visible strokes of color and features everyday life.

4 / 5

Question 5

During which century was this artwork created?

5 / 5

Answer 5

Degas painted this artwork in the 19th century.

5 / 5

❮ ❯

1. Who are the characters in the artwork? The characters are ballerinas, their mother, and the ballet master, Jules Perrot.
2. What is the setting of the artwork? The setting is a rehearsal room at the Paris Opera.
3. To which western art movement does this painting belong? This painting belongs to the Impressionist art movement.
4. How is this painting reflective of Impressionism? This work was constructed with visible strokes of color and features everyday life.
5. During which century was this artwork created? Degas painted this artwork in the 19th century.

References

'The Ballet Class (Degas, Musée d'Orsay).' Wikipedia. Wikipedia.org. n.p.

'Impressionism.' Wikipedia. Wikipedia.org. n.p.