Books with title Degas and the Little Dancer

Young Marie wants to be a ballerina, but her parents have no money for lessons. She must earn what little money she can as an artist's model at a ballet school. Then, her life takes an unusual turn when she models for the famous sculptor, Edgar Degas. In B.E.S. Anholt's Artists Books for Children series, author and illustrator Laurence Anholt recalls memorable and sometimes amusing moments when the lives of the artists were touched by children. Anholt's fine illustrations appear on every page and include reproductions of works by the artists.

Many years ago, Marie hoped to be a famous ballerina, but because her family had too little money for lessons she began modeling at the ballet school. The painter for whom she modeled was the artist, Edgar Degas. As Degas' figure of The Little Dancer took shape, Marie began to feel sympathy for the bad-tempered artist. When the sculpture was finished, thousands of art lovers came to see the statue, making Marie the most famous dancer of all. Here is an exquisite introduction to the life of a great nineteenth-century French artist, with beautiful impressionistic illustrations and reproductions of Degas' own work.

In Little Dancer--The Degas Poems, the fourth Lyn Lifshin collection published by NightBallet Press, Lifshin imagines and explores the world of Marie Van Goethem, the "Little Dancer" sculpted by Edgar Degas. In her introduction, Lifshin writes: "Now loved, Degas' original wax version of the little dancer was hated, though his paintings had been greeted enthusiastically. His sculpture of The Little Dancer, Aged 14, was considered shocking and unsettling, like a little monkey. It is said one father cried, 'God forbid my daughter should become a dancer.' Many were shocked by her pose and the material used: human hair, beeswax, silk. Degas loved the opera and ballet but this statue was called 'repulsive' and 'vicious,' a threat to society. It forced viewers to look at the seamy side of life since most of the young girls came from very poor slums and working class families. Others were horrified that she seemed to champion ugliness and depravity. Degas never again exhibited the sculpture. And, though he painted ballerinas all his life, The Little Dancer was largely forgotten until it was rediscovered with dozens of other sculptures. His fascination with making sculpture was little know in his lifetime, unlike his portraits, history paintings, scenes from modern life, the world of horse racing, and the theater and ballet." Christina Zawadiwsky, winner of a National Endowment Award, and author of The Hand on the Head of Lazarus, wrote this review: "We now recognize The Little Dancer sculpture by Degas as arresting and compelling, but there was a time when she was considered scandalous and disturbing. Lyn Lifshin's poems celebrate her creation as a symbol of so many young and impoverished French female dancers who attempted to fill our world with grace, energy, and beauty. And Lifshin's insightful and incisive Little Dancer poems remind us to remember her name, Marie Van Goethem, so that she will never fade into obscurity."

Meet the famous French painter Edgar Degas. Discover his passion for photography, dancers, horses... Everything is full of life in Paris! Make yourself at home at the horse race. Create your own beautiful hat! Attend a dance lesson and watch the ballet! Discover the world of Degas through his masterpieces. Read, play and be creative! Learn about art while having fun.