Degas spent years watching ballerinas rehearse.
He saw them perform, but the unguarded moments held his attention.
Degas’s ballerinas stretch, wait, adjust their costumes, and recover between movements. The stage offered the appearance of perfection. Degas looked for the truth underneath it.
Degas at least knew the performance was only part of the story. Put humans under stage lights, and they will show you exactly what they want you to see. Cats require considerably more convincing.
Back in the studio, Degas reached for his oils less and less. Pastel went over monotypes and tracing paper. Fixative allowed him to add more color without rubbing the earlier layers into sludge.
Humans call this experimentation.
Cats understand the value of getting the first scratch right.
The ballerinas were different. They trained from childhood to balance, leap, turn, and land without knocking over the furniture.
Cats master this before breakfast.
Degas kept his attention on the moments without applause. A tired dancer fixing her shoe or waiting for another correction interested him as much as a perfect turn. The audience came for grace. Degas captured what came before it.
For a human, Degas was surprisingly perceptive, devoting much of his career to documenting humanity’s difficult climb toward the feline standard.
The effort was touching.
Can We Help You?
Is it time to bring the unseen work behind your craft into the spotlight?
Otis is grateful you stayed for the rehearsal.
Tell us in the comments what part of your work no one sees.
Share this with someone still doing the hard work offstage, and subscribe.
Otis plans to return next week, assuming the dressing room meets his standards.
Continue The Journey
The Fire of Inspiration: A Journey into Artistic Genius explores the philosophy of Mack-n-Cheeze Music in greater depth.
Because sometimes the wisest person in the studio has four paws.
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