The Little Dancer That Set Edgar Degas's Auction Record

Edgar Degas, Petite danseuse de quatorze ans (Little Dancer Aged 14) 1879-1881 (1927) sold for $41.61m at Christie's in New York on May 12, 2022. The bronze sculpture, with brown patina, muslin skirt and satin hair ribbon on wooden base, had been traded 5 times in the past.

Degas' original wax model was executed between 1879-81. This bronze version was one of 29 cast in 1927.

Degas' sculpture of a young ballet dancer, carefully dressed in fabric, caused a sensation when it was first exhibited in 1881 at the Sixth Impressionist Exhibition in Paris. In 1880, he had planned to show the work but instead displayed an empty show case.

Degas' sculpture was never cast in bronze during the artist’s lifetime. It was only after the artist's death that casts were made. The wax original is now in the National Gallery of Art, Washington DC.

The artist's model, Marie van Goethem, was a ballet student at the Paris Opera when she began modeling for Degas. She came from a working class family as was typical of dancers, who were known as “petits rats”.

The sculpture is one of the great works of art the collector Anne Hendricks Bass displayed in her New York apartment. She also owned a Degas pastel of a young dancer tying her ballet shoes. Her other works included pair of Rothkos and three Monets.

The sale beat the Dega’s previous auction record by $4.57m, a 12% rise. His previous record was set by Danseuse au repos (1879), which sold for $37.04m at Sotheby's on November 3, 2008.

A Brief History of Degas at Auction