Artist: Edgar Degas Created: 1878 Dimensions (cm): 44 x 60 Format: Pastel on canvas Location: Musée d'Orsay, Paris In The Star, Degas captures the pure unadulterated joy of a primary ballerina dancing a solo turn on an empty stage. She is on pointe, balancing gracefully on one leg and maintaining a majestic pose perhaps having the moment of her life. This represents Degas’s lifelong fascination with dancers, which he continuously captured throughout his career. Specifically in this painting, the severe downward angle suggests the viewpoint is from one of higher boxes and Degas uses color and light contrasts to create the fantastic reality of the Ballet.