Edgar Degas, a key figure of French Impressionism, often focused on images of the ballet. In paintings, pastels, and sculptures, the artist focused on the movements and physical presence of young dancers. During his lifetime, Degas’ sculptures were less widely known than his paintings and pastels. Sculptures such as Dancer Looking at the Sole of Her Right Foot, originally conceived in wax, preserve the textures and the suggested impression of a figure as it moves through space and time.