← Edgar Degas

Study for a Portrait of Mathilde Salle (modeled ca. 1892, cast 1920, Met-Objekt 432)

Original title: Study for a Portrait of Mathilde Salle

Artist

Edgar Degas

Date

modeled ca. 1892, cast 1920

Medium

Bronze on black marble base

Dimensions

H. w. base: 16-1/2; W. 5-9/16; D. 8 in. (41.9 x 14.1 x 20.3 cm.)

Credit line

H.O. Havemeyer Collection, Bequest of Mrs. H.O. Havemeyer, 1929

kurzbeschreibung

A woman's head, modeled around 1892 by Edgar Degas as a study for a portrait of Mathilde Salle and cast in bronze in 1920, rests on a base of black marble.

Description

From the front, a woman's head appears with clearly worked features: eyes, nose, and mouth are distinctly formed. The bronze surface looks rough and reveals traces of modeling. A plain white background emphasizes the sculpture. The bust is supported by a black marble base.

Context

Around 1892, when Degas was deeply engaged with sculpture, this study was created. The bronze cast was made only in 1920, after the artist's death. It belongs to several preparatory works for a portrait of Mathilde Salle. Along with other wax models, it was posthumously transferred to bronze.

Impact

The rough surface and precise shaping give the sculpture an immediate, almost familiar presence. Because only the head is shown and the background remains neutral, the sitter's individual facial features come to the fore.

Technique

The bronze casting allows a faithful reproduction of the original wax model. The visible modeling traces point to direct work with the material, typical of Degas's sculptural practice.

AI-generated description text

Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)