This piece ("The Ballet Class" by Edgar Degas") is in the Impressionist style. Many of Degas' paintings have ballet dancing as their theme. The man in the center is a famous ballet teacher named Jules Perrot. This painting most likely depicts the end of a ballet class because the dancers are resting and appear tired, especially the girl sitting on the piano with her hunched-over back. If it was in the middle of a class, the dancers would be up on their feet dancing. If it was the beginning of a class, the dancers would be more poised and most likely stretching.
