Edgar Degas’ Little Dancer Aged Fourteen was pretty controversial when it was first shown in the 1880s. In this Moment in Art History we’ll discuss the sculpture, the criticism, and the development of mixed media art.
Degas’ Little Dancer – the mixed media sculpture experiment nearly everyone hated
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This is a great video about an important piece in art history! This particular work is timeless to me, and the fact that it challenged the status quo at the time it was created makes it even more successful, and we learn more about Degas as an artist, I think. It’s so important that we look to art history to understand where we’ve been and where we are going. For me, doing so teaches me the importance of taking risks and not creating for an audience. I am better, and my work is better, when I’m just being myself and following my instincts.
One has to understand the social climate and etiquette of this time period as to why it was so severely criticized. It was considered ugly because of the mixed media he was using. In our time, this sculpture would probably very acceptable when you consider that flour sacks have used to create figurative forms. I love the expression on this young dancers face.
I always said(I don’t know who originated the words) that beauty is in the eyes of the beholder. I quess it takes quite some time for people to appriciate innovative changes especially in painting and sculpture.
Degas has been my favorite artist of the 19th century and I am always impressed with his intimate knowledge of his subject and his ability to take a fresh approach to it. His willingness to use different media and approaches reveals his search for the ultimate statement. His critics were more superficial.
I think this is a beautiful piece. And, no, it didn’t deserve the harsh criticism it received. However, I can see how it would receive that sort of criticism because the time was “right” for advancement. But, sometimes people aren’t ready when the artistic world is.