The Dance Lesson (c. 1879) is a significant impressionist work by Edgar Degas, currently housed at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C.

Key Details of the Artwork

Composition: This was the first of approximately 40 works Degas created in a distinctive horizontal, "frieze-like" format. It reflects his interest in Japanese prints, featuring off-center figures and a floor that appears to tilt upwards.

The Scene: Instead of a formal performance, Degas captures the "in-between" moments of a rehearsal. orange shawl sits on a double bass, looking exhausted.

Center: A seated dancer in a pink jacket watches another dancer adjust her green sash.
Right: A group of dancers practice in the background near a large window.

Medium: It is an oil-on-canvas painting, though a notable pastel version from the same year exists at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.