The Loge

Edgar Degas

National Gallery of Art

Upon first glance, the shapes and colors in this painting are hard to distinguish. After closer inspection, three women become visible, all with pale skin, light hair, and indistinct facial features. On the left, the back of a woman's head and shoulder are visible as she leans toward the edge of a low wall or balcony. She wears a dark blue, off-the-shoulder dress with a black neckline. Next to her, on the right, is a woman in profile, looking to the left. In her hair there is a bright red accessory, perhaps a flower or the side of an earmuff. She wears a pink dress with a ruffled neckline, a black necklace high on her neck, and a small white earring. She holds a black fan near her face. In the background, behind them, is a dancer in a green dress, her arms extended above her head. The two women in the balcony look out at the dancer. The ground beneath the dancer is light brown, and the background behind her is abstract, with soft hues of green and orange. A red curtain frames the woman in the balcony to the left, and there is a black curtain on the right.