Edgar Degas was fascinated by the world of dance, a theme that dominates his work and is represented both in painting and in pastels, drawings, monotypes, and sculptures. It was the movement that held his interest, rather than the aesthetic. Five dancers are shown here on stage during a rehearsal, in various poses. Two are preparing to set off across the stage, while the others are warming up. They are all turned towards the ballet master, the man who orchestrates the details of the performance, but is only depicted here as a roughly-sketched silhouette in the background.

The main theme is set off centre, cut off by the right-hand edge of the painting: this is one of the artist's favourite processes and may have been inspired by Japanese etchings, very popular at the time, and possibly by Degas’ own practice of photography. The decor at the back of the stage is reminiscent of the painter’s landscapes from this period. The pigment appears to have been applied in superimposed layers, fusing the colours together and creating an almost chalky medium which resembles the pastel effects the painter was focusing and exploring at this time. This is a bold move away from mimetic representations of reality. The detail faded as his career progressed and the pure essence of gesture and form – the ultimate aim of his approach – took precedence, while the shades explored in his palette became increasingly bright and intense.