Self-Portrait (1857, Met-Objekt 511)
Original title: Edgar Degas: Self-Portrait
kurzbeschreibung
Unlike many contemporary portraits, this self-portrait by Edgar Degas, made in 1857, presents the artist in half-profile with a wide-brimmed hat and jacket, in a calm, contemplative pose. It is an etching with drypoint reworking, in the third of four states, printed in black and white on paper.
Description
Degas appears in half-profile, yet his face is turned almost frontally toward the viewer. A wide-brimmed hat sits on his head, and his jacket slips down from one shoulder. The background remains sparse: just a flat, undefined wall that keeps attention on the artist. Fine lines and hatching model the surfaces of jacket and hat. Evenly distributed light brings out the contours and shadows of face and clothing.
Context
The print was created in 1857 during Degas's stay in Italy, where he engaged intensively with printmaking. It belongs to his early self-portraits, which he executed in various techniques. In this etching, the influence of the old masters he studied on his travels is evident.
Impact
The pose feels relaxed and thoughtful, supported by the even lighting. Fine lines and the reduced background draw the eye to the artist's face. This creates an intimate, self-reflective mood.
Technique
The work is an etching with drypoint, in which lines are scratched directly into a metal plate. The third of four states shows an already worked-out arrangement with fine hatching. The monochrome palette and precise linework are typical of 19th-century printmaking.
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Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)