Focus on Miss La La at the Cirque Fernando and explore the Introduction.
Degas visited the recently established Cirque Fernando at least four times between the 19th and 25th of January 1879. The star attraction was the act of Miss La La, a mixed-race acrobat, known as la femme canon. The nickname came from her most sensational trick: to fire a cannon suspended on chains that she held in her teeth while hanging from the trapeze, hooked at the knees.Degas made numerous sketches in his notebook during his visits and at least four pastel studies afterward. Through these studies, he carefully designed the poses, composition, and color palette of his final painting.
Cirque Fernando Miss La La