In Edgar Degas’s 1879 illustration, his impressionistic methods capture the essence of movement on the stage. His brush strokes are noticeably rough, especially in the background and the dancers’ dresses. The rough brush strokes, while it may make the painting seem less detailed and lazy, depicts the movement of the dancers better. It also gives the dancers and the stage greater flexibility and the viewers are able to take in the idea of movement more naturally. The painting overall, does not create an immediate impression with its use of color. The color palette for Stage Rehearsal is rather neutral and dull. The dancers may catch the viewer’s eye, as their white dresses seem to illuminate the space around them. The color gradient moves from up stage to down stage, from dark to light, adding more depth to the overall image. With regards to the composition of the painting, the scene of dancers is captured from an angle rather than the center. The dancers are scattered around the painting and there is no single apparent subject because there is no exact center. This lack of a clear frontal view is apparent when compared to other impressionist paintings. This allows for the view of the others dancers who are waiting on the edge of the stage (left of painting), capturing the essence of a real ‘rehearsal’. Overall, Degas’s use of rather muted and neutral colors, rough brush strokes and angled perspective shows the realness of a stage rehearsal, which can be seen in the tired faces of the dancers.