← Edgar Degas

Head of a Woman in Profile

Original title: Head of a Woman in Profile

Artist

Edgar Degas

Date

1879–80

Medium

Softground etching, aquatint, and drypoint on laid paper (unique impression)

Dimensions

plate: 4 1/2 x 4 7/16 in. (11.5 x 11.3 cm) sheet: 7 5/8 x 10 1/4 in. (19.3 x 26 cm)

Credit line

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

kurzbeschreibung

Edgar Degas made "Frauenkopf im Profil" in 1879–80 as a unique impression using softground etching, aquatint, and drypoint on laid paper. The woman's face in profile is shaped by shading and delicate lines.

Description

A woman's face in profile, with eye and mouth only hinted at. Her hair appears as a mesh of dots and strokes. Shadows fall across her features, plunging the image into a deep, quiet mood. The background stays bare and dark, so all attention rests on the face. Gray tones dominate the monochrome palette. At the sheet's edge, a slight offset shows this is a one-of-a-kind print.

Context

This print emerged at a time when Degas was deeply engaged with printmaking and experimenting with various techniques. Paris was his setting, where he moved in Impressionist circles but went his own way in graphics. That it is a unique impression reveals that Degas treated the printing process as part of the artistic process and deliberately allowed deviations.

Impact

The dark shading and fine play of lines give the portrait an intimate, pensive note. Because only the profile is shown and the background remains dark, the sheet feels collected and almost contemplative.

Technique

Softground etching, aquatint, and drypoint came together in this print. The result is a mix of soft tonal gradations and precise strokes. Aquatint creates the deep shadows, while drypoint provides fine, dry lines. It was printed on laid paper, whose surface feels warm and textile-like.

AI-generated description text

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