The Actress Ellen Andrée
Original title: The Actress Ellen Andrée
kurzbeschreibung
Unlike many portraits by Degas’s contemporaries, which usually showed Ellen Andrée in theatrical costume or in company, this 1879 print focuses entirely on her appearance in historical dress. The drypoint on laid paper is the second of three states and survives as a unique impression.
Description
Ellen Andrée is seen in profile, her gaze turned slightly to the left. She wears a cap and a long skirt whose pattern suggests flowers or leaves. In her hand she holds a book or a document. The arrangement is plain, bringing the figure alone to the fore. Light and shadow model the fabric and the contours of her body. The drypoint’s scratch marks run through face and garment in fine lines.
Context
In the 1870s Ellen Andrée was a sought-after Parisian actress who also modeled for Manet and Renoir. Degas devoted several works to her, in which stage and theater recur. This print falls at a time when he was increasingly examining women in everyday and professional roles. Because only a few impressions were pulled from the plate, the etching is among the rare records of that engagement.
Impact
A quiet, intimate mood emanates from the print. The historical clothing and serious expression give the portrait something timeless, almost monumental. The viewer is brought close to the sitter without any pathos.
Technique
In drypoint the artist scratches the lines directly into the copper plate, producing soft, velvety edges. Printing was done on laid paper, whose warm, textured surface shapes the impression. The small plate allows a precise yet concentrated rendering.
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Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)