How did Edgar Degas prepare for paintings such as The Ballet Class?

To prepare for paintings such as The Ballet Class, Edgar Degas engaged in assiduous preparation by creating numerous drawings of dancers who posed for him directly in his studio.12

While his finished works often appear spontaneous—resembling a photograph or a candid "through-the-keyhole" glimpse—they were in fact meticulously planned. Degas combined his rigorous training as a draftsman, influenced by Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres and the Old Masters, with modern compositional techniques. He frequently utilized "cut-off" compositions, a style inspired by Japanese prints, to overturn traditional artistic rules and create a sense of depth and movement within the scene.12