Dancers Practicing at the Barre

Edgar Degas gave this painting to Henri Rouart, an art collector, as a replacement for an earlier work he had revised after it was complete and ruined. Later, Degas would regret the painting’s none-to-subtle pun — a watering can mirroring the ballerina’s pose, and ask Rouart if he could repaint it. Rouart declined. Good call, Rouart.