The Painted Girls

The Painted Girls follows the lives of three sisters in 1878 Paris after their father's death leaves the family destitute. Marie van Goethem, the middle sister, trains as a ballet dancer at the Paris Opera while also modeling for Edgar Degas as he creates his controversial sculpture "Little Dancer, Aged Fourteen." Antoinette, the eldest sister, takes work as an extra in an Émile Zola play while attempting to support her siblings. The sisters navigate the gritty underbelly of Belle Époque Paris, where the line between art and exploitation becomes increasingly blurred. Marie's experiences as both a ballet student and an artist's model run parallel to a real-life murder case that captivates Paris. The story moves between Marie and Antoinette's perspectives as they make choices that will determine their futures in a city that offers both opportunity and danger. The novel explores questions of art, class, and survival while examining how society's views on morality and human nature influence the trajectories of young women's lives.

Readers praise the historical accuracy and rich period details of 1870s Paris, particularly the behind-the-scenes look at the Paris Opera Ballet. Many note the book's success in weaving real historical figures and events into the narrative. The dual storylines and sisterly relationship resonate with readers, with several commenting on the authentic portrayal of poverty and class struggles. Multiple reviews highlight the author's research into Degas and his famous "Little Dancer" sculpture. Common criticisms include a slow-moving plot, especially in the middle sections. Some readers found the switching perspectives between sisters disruptive to the flow. A portion of reviews mention that the darker elements of the story (crime, abuse) were heavier than expected. Ratings: Goodreads: 3.8/5 (22,000+ ratings) Amazon: 4.3/5 (400+ ratings) LibraryThing: 3.9/5 (300+ ratings) "Meticulously researched but never feels like a history lesson," notes one Amazon reviewer. A Goodreads review states: "The grimy streets of Paris feel real - you can practically smell them."

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🎭 The book's story was inspired by Edgar Degas' famous sculpture "Little Dancer Aged Fourteen," which depicts Marie van Goethem, a real-life ballet student at the Paris Opera in the 1880s. 🎨 Author Cathy Marie Buchanan extensively researched 19th-century Paris, including visiting the actual locations where Marie van Goethem lived and danced, to create authentic historical details. 🩰 The Paris Opera Ballet School during this period operated as a form of social welfare, providing poor young girls with dance training while also serving as a hunting ground for wealthy male patrons seeking mistresses. 🖼️ The novel incorporates actual newspaper articles from 1880s Paris that linked physical characteristics to criminal behavior—a theory that influenced how Degas' subjects, including Marie, were perceived by society. 💫 The original wax sculpture of "Little Dancer" caused controversy when first exhibited in 1881, with critics comparing the dancer's features to those of a criminal and calling it "repulsive."