Edgar Degas - Little Dancer of Fourteen Years

Degas was the only Impressionist painter who truly engaged in sculpture, becoming a model for modern artists (such as Matisse, Picasso, and Miró). He attempted to capture fleeting images from life, initially exploring various forms of horses, then shifting to figures, especially young ballerinas. In extreme realism, he portrayed the warm and approachable expression of the little dancer, wearing a tulle tutu with ribbons in her hair; her costume and shoes were painted (a sculptural technique akin to painting), making her appear lifelike and vivid. To viewers, she represents eternal flight, foreshadowing new themes in modern sculpture.