Existing comment:
Edgar Degas
Portrait of Eugenie Fiocre a propos of the Ballet "La Source", 1867-1868
Eugénie Fiocre
From https://www.nga.gov/features/degas-opera.html
Eugénie Fiocre began her dance training in 1858 at age 13, following in the footsteps of her older sister, Louise. Eugénie became a ballerina in 1861 and rocketed to fame with her debut in the ballet Néméa, or Love Avenged in 1864. Admired for her beauty more than her talent, she nevertheless enjoyed a very successful career, gaining considerable recognition for performing "en travesti" (roles in which she dressed and acted as a male character). In 1866 she was cast as Nouredda, the principal role in the landmark ballet La Source (with music cowritten by Léo Delibes and Ludwig Minkus, the latter of whom also wrote the score for Néméa). Degas drew the dancer's portrait in August 1867, later memorializing her role in what would become his first ballet picture. (She is the figure in blue.) |