The Engraver Joseph Tourny (1857, printed mid-1860s)
Original title: The Engraver Joseph Tourny
kurzbeschreibung
Edgar Degas made the etching 'The Engraver Joseph Tourny' in 1857; it was printed in the mid-1860s. It depicts the engraver Joseph Tourny indoors, half-lying, wearing a cap and jacket, his head turned to the left. The sheet is an etching on laid paper, a third printing with surface tone.
Description
A man half lies, half sits, dressed in a cap and jacket. His face points left, his gaze distant. Behind him, dark, almost black areas suggest a wall or door; on the left, part of a bed or bench appears. Light from the left strikes the figure, bringing out facial features and the texture of the clothing. The gradations of gray and visible hatched lines are part of the etching technique.
Context
In 1857 Degas was in Italy, where he studied the tradition of printmaking; the etching dates from this period. Joseph Tourny, the sitter, was an engraver; his identity is recorded in connection with Degas's early graphic works. The fact that the print was only made in the mid-1860s shows that Degas returned to the plate later and experimented with surface tone.
Impact
Side lighting and the man's calm pose give the image a thoughtful, collected quality. The dark areas in the background recede behind the figure, making it stand out in relief; a contemplative mood emerges. The realistic style with visible lines lends the sheet an immediate, almost sketch-like presence.
Technique
Etching on laid paper, executed as a third printing with surface tone. In this process, the plate is not wiped completely clean after etching, so a tone remains on the paper, enhancing the gray gradations. The linework is precise, revealing Degas's early engagement with printmaking.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)