← Edgar Degas

Head and Shoulders of a Young Woman in Profile I

Original title: Head and Shoulders of a Young Woman in Profile I

Artist

Edgar Degas

Date

ca. 1879

Medium

Softground etching; canceled plate

Dimensions

sheet: 12 7/8 x 9 13/16 in. (32.7 x 24.9 cm) plate: 3 3/16 x 2 13/16 in. (8.1 x 7.1 cm)

Credit line

The Elisha Whittelsey Collection, The Elisha Whittelsey Fund, 1968

kurzbeschreibung

Executed around 1879, Edgar Degas's etching 'Head and Shoulders of a Young Woman in Profile I' presents a young woman seen from the side. Made as a softground etching, the sheet belongs to the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art; the plate was later cancelled.

Description

A young woman's head and shoulders appear in profile. Her dark hair is gathered into a loose ponytail. The facial features stand out clearly: defined eyebrows, a gentle smile. The background remains sparse, with only a few strokes suggesting light and shadow. The wavy lines of the softground process outline face and hair; light falling from the side becomes palpable through shading on cheeks and hair.

Context

The etching was made around 1879, when Degas was deeply engaged with printmaking and experimenting. Softground was then still a young technique that allowed soft, drawing-like lines. This sheet belongs to a series of studies on the theme of female portraits—a recurring motif in Degas's work.

Impact

The wavy lines and reduced layout make the portrait feel very close and personal. Side light and shading create a quiet, contemplative mood that holds the viewer's gaze.

Technique

In softground etching, the plate is covered with a soft ground that permits drawing-like effects. This produces soft, slightly irregular lines reminiscent of chalk drawings. The plate—unlike the sheet—is kept small, suggesting an intimate, detailed execution.

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