The Orchestra at the Opera by Edgar Degas

This painting, one of Degas' most celebrated, is actually the first painting where ballet dancers are featured. He would go on to paint countless more, and arguably have the ballet dancer become his trademark subject. 'The Orchestra at the Opera', which was made for his friend Désiré Dihau, is painted as seen from a member of the audience. Dihau is the man the painting is centred on, playing the bassoon in the orchestra pit of the Paris Opera, with the rest of the orchestra surrounding him, and the scene and ballet dancers in the background.