La veille d’un début

Pierre Carrier-Belleuse first studied under his father, the sculptor Albert-Ernest Carrier-Belleuse. He is best remembered for his paintings and pastels of ballerinas. The present work was the artist’s Salon submission in 1888, where it was well-received by critics who were charmed by the depiction of the mother of a young ballerina consulting her cards the night before the dancer’s debut in order to foretell the success of her career.