Topic: The Subject in Visual Art

The Dance Class

Edgar Degas 

French,  1834–1917 

Date: 1874 Medium: Oil on canvas.
32"x 30" Bequest of Mrs. Harry Payne Bingham,
1986 Accession Number: 1987.47.1 Metropolitan Museum of Art, NYC          

 Topic: The Subject Matter in Visual Art

Questions to be Addressed: Beyond the Who, What When and Where

• Who is depicted in this image?
• How many figures?
• What are the genders of the figures?
• How are they dressed?
• What action(s) are occurring in this image? By whom? Between whom?
• What is the setting of this image- where does it take place?
• What time of day is it? (Day, evening, night?)

 Part 1.    PDF file on Degas     

 Part 2        PDF file on Bruger

 Part 3.       PDF File on the assessment

Continued Resources:

Edgar Degas


Pieter Bruegel the Elder

Part 3


Allusion is a figure of speech, in which one refers covertly or indirectly to an object or circumstance that has occurred or existed in an external context. It is left to the audience to make the connection.

The assessment of subject