Orchestra Musicians, Edgar Degas
Edgar Degas
Orchestra Musicians
de
Back to top

Edgar Degas

Orchestra Musicians, 1872 (1874 – 1876)


Dimensions
63.6 x 49 cm
Physical Description
Oil on canvas
Inventory Number
SG 237
Acquisition
Acquired in 1912
Status
On display, 1st upper level, Modern Art, room 4

Texts

About the Work

Degas chose an unusual perspective for this painting: he shows the ballet dancers from one of the orchestra musician’s point of view. The painting is an early example of his great interest in the world of opera and ballet. The composition is the result of a gradual process of revision. Though he had begun painting it in 1872, Degas started changing the painting’s format by removing and adding pieces of the canvas somewhere between 1874 and 1876 – turning the original landscape format into a portrait format. Thus, he achieved an equal presence of music and dance.

Video

Kunst|Stück – Edgar Degas: Die Orchestermusiker
Sammlungshighlights des Städel Museums in unterhaltsamen und informativen Filmen – das sind die Kunst|Stücke. Entdecken Sie spannende Details zu Kunstwerken aus ungewöhnlichen Blickwinkeln in unter zwei Minuten. Edgar Degas: Die Orchestermusiker (1872), Städel Museum, Frankfurt am Main. https://sammlung.staedelmuseum.de/de/werk/die-orchestermusiker#yt

Work Data

Work Content

Research and Discussion

Similar works

  • All

More to discover

Contact

Do you have any suggestions, questions or information about this work?

Last update

13.05.2026