Dancer stapling the epaulette to her bodice - Edgar Degas, Valsuani cast, 1998

This magnificent bronze by Edgar Degas, entitled Danseuse agrafant l'épaulette de son corsage, captures a moment of delicate intimacy: a young ballerina concentrating on adjusting her costume. The raised arms, asymmetrical pose and natural elegance of the body reveal the sculptor's sensitivity to fleeting gestures, rendered here with an expressive texture characteristic of his mature plastic language.
This cast was made in 1998 by the prestigious Valsuani foundry in Paris, using the traditional lost-wax method. The work bears Degas' signature, the foundry stamp and the number IV/IX, part of a posthumous edition of 29: 20 marked A to T and 9 numbered I/IX to IX/IX. It is accompanied by a certificate from the Comité Degas.
World-renowned for his masterly depictions of the world of dance, Degas transposed his sharp eye to sculpture with the same intensity as in his pastels and oils. His ballerinas, far from being idealized, are very real women, captured in intimate gestures, as here in this simple, graceful movement.
This sculpture belongs to the group of 74 wax models discovered in the artist's studio after his death in 1917. Many were cast posthumously to preserve his legacy, and Valsuani castings are among the most sought-after by collectors and institutions alike.
Like his equestrian bronze Cheval prenant un obstacle, this work demonstrates Degas' ability to breathe life and movement into bronze. Pieces of this quality are rare on the market, offering a unique opportunity to acquire a museum-quality work by an undisputed master of Impressionist sculpture.

Ref: 8MPC9TGZJ5