Degas's The Dance Class

Directional lines are used by artists to direct the viewer to a specific part of the painting. In Degas’s The Dance Class, he directs our attention to the background first. The slight diagonal and contrasting colors of the wall makes it a distinctive feature of the painting, and this is what I noticed first. One can follow that line to the back wall and see many ballerinas. After that, the focus is shifted to the directional line on the floor that leads to the focal point of the painting.
Contrast is another element that’s present in this painting. Contrast is a very noticeable, even a striking difference in color. As mentioned, we can see this with the dark color of the pilasters contrasting with the lighter green color of the wall. The accessories