Bookshelves, Study for "Edmond Duranty"
Original title: Bookshelves, Study for "Edmond Duranty"
kurzbeschreibung
What sets this 1879 drawing apart from Degas's other preparatory studies is its focus on furniture rather than figures. Executed in dark brown chalk with white heightening on blue laid paper that has since faded to beige, it served as a study for the portrait of the writer Edmond Duranty.
Description
Several shelves stacked one above the other fill the sheet, densely packed with books. A few volumes lie scattered on the floor in front. Dark brown tones dominate, with hatching suggesting the books and shelf boards. Sparse white chalk accents provide points of light. The overall tonality is muted, and the paper has faded.
Context
This study was made in 1879 in connection with Degas's portrait of the writer and art critic Edmond Duranty, an advocate of naturalism who maintained a close exchange with the Impressionists. The bookshelves in the background of the painting were meant to place the intellectual in his working environment. The present sheet is one of several preparatory studies for that picture.
Impact
A quiet, intimate mood emanates from the drawing, created by the dense rows of books and the subdued color. Despite its sketchy execution, the dark chalk and white heightening give the sheet a sculptural depth. The faded tone of the paper evokes a historical, slightly nostalgic impression.
Technique
Degas worked with dark brown chalk, heightened with white chalk on blue laid paper. The paper has since discolored to beige. Hatching allows for a quick, precise grasp of the shelf structure, while the white heightenings suggest light reflections on the book spines.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)