Race and gender representation in Degas’ works of Miss La La
About
In 1879 the French Impressionist painter Edgar Degas made the circus artist Miss La La, or Anna Albertine Olga Brown, the subject of one of his most original and arresting paintings, 'Miss La La at the Cirque Fernando'.
Many of Degas' preparatory drawings and sketches survive and are reunited in our current exhibition, 'Discover Degas and Miss La La'. Join art historian, writer and educator Melissa Baksh for a short tour exploring the life of Miss La La and race and gender representation in Degas’ works of her. During the tour Melissa will also examine issues around the male gaze, dance as a form of collective joy and the historical and colonial significance of rope.
Your speaker
Melissa Baksh is a London-based art historian, writer, curator, educator, and broadcaster/DJ. A desire to make art accessible and open up art collections to a wide range of audiences underpins her work and as well as at the National Gallery, she has delivered lectures, tours and workshops at the Hayward Gallery, Wellcome Collection and the National Gallery of Umbria. She has written for publications including The Guardian, The Times, The Independent, The Art Newspaper, Frieze and ArtReview on historical and contemporary art, colonial legacies and public art.
Supported by
Supported by Elizabeth and Daniel Peltz OBE
Lunchtime talk
Race and gender representation in Degas’ works of Miss La La
Free
Although this event does not require booking, we recommend you book a free Gallery entry ticket to gain admission to the National Gallery and save time on arrival.
Please note, Gallery entry does not guarantee admission to this event. Places are available on a first come, first served basis.