Paul Poujaud, Mme. Arthur Fontaine, and Degas
Original title: Paul Poujaud, Mme. Arthur Fontaine, and Degas
kurzbeschreibung
In a black-and-white photograph from 1895, Edgar Degas turns his lens on a domestic scene with three figures: a woman seated with a book, a man leaning against a table, and another figure appearing behind them. Executed as a gelatin silver print, the sheet measures 29.4 x 40.5 cm.
Description
A living room sets the stage: on a sofa sits a woman, a book in hand, her upper body slightly inclined forward. Beside her, a man has taken a seat and rests his head in his hands; a third person bends in from behind, as if speaking to the seated woman. Fireplace, mirror, decorated wall surfaces, plants, and vases structure the space. From above, likely through a ceiling light, illumination falls and casts soft shadows. The layout draws the eye to the figures in the foreground and their interaction.
Context
The photograph dates from 1895, when Degas had long used photography as a medium in its own right and arranged friends and acquaintances in his studio or in apartments. The sitters—Paul Poujaud, Madame Arthur Fontaine, and Degas—belonged to his close circle. For Degas, such images were not merely private mementos but also studies for paintings and drawings.
Impact
The gathering feels as though it were caught casually, even though the arrangement is deliberate. The mirror in the background opens up the room, while the depth of the space and the calm posture of the figures create a pensive mood—entirely in keeping with Degas’s fondness for intimate, unposed moments.
Technique
A gelatin silver print was used, a process common around 1895 that allows fine tonal gradations. At 29.4 x 40.5 cm, the format is unusually large for an early amateur photograph, suggesting a deliberate presentation.
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Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)