At the Café des Ambassadeurs
Original title: At the Café des Ambassadeurs
kurzbeschreibung
Edgar Degas made this etching in 1879–80. It captures a scene at the Café des Ambassadeurs in Paris: two people sit in the foreground, deep in conversation, while a third figure is seated behind them. The print is a drypoint with aquatint and softground, and it exists in the fifth (final) state.
Description
Three figures inhabit an interior, rendered in a spare, sketch-like manner. The two in front are absorbed in talk; the third sits turned away in the background. Gray tones model shadows and surfaces, with light entering from the upper left to gently brighten the scene. The layout is asymmetrical, and the figures are seen from different angles.
Context
The Café des Ambassadeurs on the Champs-Élysées was a well-known gathering place and appeared frequently in the art and literature of the time. In the 1870s Degas was deeply engaged with Parisian nightlife and produced a series of prints in the late 1870s. This etching was printed in its fifth and final state; the plate was then destroyed.
Impact
The economical lines and monochrome palette give the sheet a quiet yet lively presence. The sketchy execution evokes a spontaneous, almost fleeting atmosphere that seems to capture the moment of conversation. The soft contrast between light and shadow underscores the intimate mood of the café.
Technique
Drypoint, softground, and aquatint come together on a copper plate. This combination allowed Degas to produce both delicate lines and soft areas of tone. After the fifth state the plate was canceled, which kept the edition limited.
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Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)