Discover the story of La Petite Danseuse de Quatorze Ans by Edgar Degas

La Petite Danseuse de Quatorze Ans — The Little Dancer Aged Fourteen — is one of the most extraordinary and controversial sculptures in the history of art. Edgar Degas created the original wax figure around 1880, depicting a young ballet student at the Paris Opera in a moment of quiet composure. When it was first exhibited in 1881, it shocked the public — never before had a sculptor dressed a figure in real fabric, with a tutu of silk and a satin ribbon in her hair. Some critics found her too real, too raw, too working-class. But over time she became one of the most beloved sculptures in the world. Today, bronze casts of the Little Dancer can be found in museums across the globe, including the Musée d'Orsay in Paris and the National Gallery of Art in Washington.

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