Member-only story

Mikesha Fuller: The Little Dancer Who Inspired Degas' Iconic Masterpiece

Ivan Cox

·2.3k Followers· Follow

Published in The Little Dancer Mikesha Fuller

4 min read

349 View Claps

19 Respond

Save

Listen

Mikesha Fuller In Degas' Sculpture, The Little Dancer, Fourteen Years Old The Little Dancer Mikesha Fuller

Edgar Degas' iconic sculpture, The Little Dancer, Fourteen Years Old, is one of the most famous works of art in the world. The sculpture, which depicts a young ballet student in a dance pose, has been celebrated for its realism and its ability to capture the grace and beauty of movement.

But who was the young girl who inspired Degas to create this masterpiece? Her name was Mikesha Fuller, and her story is just as fascinating as the sculpture itself.

Mikesha Fuller's Early Life

Mikesha Fuller was born in 1865 in Jamaica. Her family was poor, and she began working at a young age to help support her family. At the age of 14, Mikesha moved to Paris with her family, where she began taking ballet lessons.

Mikesha showed a natural talent for ballet, and she quickly became one of the top students at her school. She was known for her grace, her flexibility, and her ability to convey emotion through her dancing.

Mikesha Fuller and Edgar Degas

In 1880, Mikesha Fuller was introduced to Edgar Degas. Degas was immediately impressed by her beauty and her natural talent for ballet. He asked her to pose for him, and she agreed.

Degas spent several months working on the sculpture of Mikesha Fuller. He was meticulous in his attention to detail, and he captured every nuance of her pose and expression. The resulting sculpture is a masterpiece of realism, and it is considered one of the greatest works of art in the world.

The Little Dancer, Fourteen Years Old

The Little Dancer, Fourteen Years Old, was first exhibited in 1881. The sculpture was an immediate success, and it was praised for its realism and its beauty. However, the sculpture was also controversial. Some critics found it to be too realistic, and they objected to the use of a live model.

Despite the controversy, The Little Dancer, Fourteen Years Old, has become one of the most famous works of art in the world. The sculpture is now housed in the Musée d'Orsay in Paris, and it is one of the most popular exhibits in the museum.

Mikesha Fuller's Later Life

After posing for Degas, Mikesha Fuller continued to dance professionally. She toured Europe and the United States, and she was a popular performer. However, Fuller's career was cut short by an injury. She was forced to retire from dancing in her early twenties.

Fuller returned to Paris, where she worked as a teacher and a choreographer. She also continued to dance for her own pleasure. Fuller died in 1929 at the age of 64.

Mikesha Fuller was a talented ballet dancer who inspired Edgar Degas to create one of the most famous works of art in the world. Fuller's story is a reminder that even the most extraordinary works of art can be inspired by the most ordinary of people.

The Little Dancer

by Mikesha Fuller

5 out of 5