Miss Lala at the Fernando Circus (1879)
Technique: Giclée quality print
Recommended by our customers
More about this artwork
Edgar Degas' drawing, "Miss Lala at the Fernando Circus," presents a captivating portrait of the famed circus performer, Miss Lala, known for her incredible strength and aerial acts. In this piece from 1879, Degas portrays Lala performing a daring feat, where she is suspended by a rope clenched in her teeth, high above the awestruck audience.The artwork is characterized by its energetic pastel strokes on paper, capturing the dynamic motion and tension of the performance. The use of light and shadow, along with the blues and yellows of Lala’s costume, draws attention to her physique and the physical prowess required for her act. Degas, known for his interest in movement and his studies of performers, explores themes of strength, grace, and human endurance."Lala's performance captured by Degas is not just a display of circus artistry, but also a profound commentary on the interplay between human vulnerability and power. The composition itself—a lone figure against a roughly sketched background—highlights the isolation and concentration intrinsic to her performance.