Four little dancers inspire another. ❤️ While The Nutcracker sweeps us into a world of sugarplum fairies and magic, Edgar Degas captured a different side of the ballet world—the reality behind the performances onstage. In 19th-century Paris, young ballerinas weren’t just chasing dreams; they were working relentlessly—training 10 to 12 hours a day, six or seven days a week, pushing themselves to the limit. Many of them joined the Paris Opera Ballet not for fame, but to help financially support their families. Their strength, hard work, and determination are the real magic behind the curtain. Thank you to the incredible whatlilywore for bringing Degas' masterpiece to life with her graceful performance 🩰 __ 🖼 Edgar Degas, “Four Dancers,” 1899, oil on canvas, 59 x 70 in., Chester Dale Collection . . . . #art #painting #ballet #dance #ballerina #winter #nutcracker #christmas #degas #dancer #performance #explore #explorepage #belle #beautiful #paris