Tiny Dancer

                             Edgar Degas 'Yellow Ballerina'

                               Edgar Degas 'The Green Dress'

                              Edgar Degas 'Two Dancers'

                          Edgar Degas ' Dance Class'

                             Edgar Degas 'Ballet Dancers'

                       Edgar Degas 'Dancers in Pink'

               Jean Louis Forain 'Le foyer le l'opera'

                       My favourite Forain painting 'The Tightrope Walker'

I'm finishing this week on a very pretty note featuring some of my favourite paintings from French impressionists Edgar Degas (1834 - 1917) and Jean Louis Forain (1852 - 1931). Both artists  featured dancers regularly in their painting. Degas was known for depicting dancers in a flattering, delicate light whereas Forain's paintings had a darker more sinister edge, sometimes depicting the dancers as vulnerable to predatory wealthy men. I love both artists but the winner for me is Degas for his gorgeous use of colour.