Danseuse regardant la plante de son pied droit, 1895-1900 (bronze) [see 5948542]

'Dancer looking at the sole of her right foot': One of the very few sculptures of ballet dancers known to have been cast in plaster during Degas’ lifetime, it demonstrates his ability to capture and give dignity to a fleeting moment of effort. The woman depicted here was one of Degas’ regular models, Pauline, who in an interview after his death talked about the great strain of holding this particular pose. Although Degas himself never had any of his sculpture cast in bronze the decision was made by his heirs after his death to authorize a series of bronze casts from his originals in order to preserve them. Sculptor, and Degas’ longtime friend ,Albert Bartholomé (1848–1928) was to prepare the figures for casting, to be executed by the Paris foundry of A.-A .Hébrard et Cie.