Italian Woman
Original title: Italian Woman
kurzbeschreibung
Edgar Degas drew this Italian woman around 1856–57. She wears traditional dress and holds a vessel. The sheet, in graphite and watercolor on laid paper, belongs to his early work and reveals his interest in Italian costumes.
Description
Standing against a neutral ground, the woman holds a brown vessel that calls to mind a jug or amphora. She wears a white dress with a blue and red bodice, as well as a red sleeve piece. Her head covering resembles an apron or a veil. Frontal light emphasizes the contours of the figure and the vessel. Grey, white, blue, and red tones dominate the palette.
Context
This drawing was made during Degas's stay in Italy from 1856 to 1857, when he lodged with relatives in Naples and Florence. At that time he produced numerous studies of everyday scenes and traditional costumes. The sheet belongs to a group of works that attest to his early interest in representing the human body and in ethnographic details.
Impact
The clear contours and restrained color give the scene a quiet, concentrated air. By combining precise graphite drawing with delicate watercolor, the figure acquires an almost documentary presence.
Technique
Graphite drawing and watercolor painting on laid paper are combined here. The graphite lines outline the forms and details, while the watercolor is applied in muted tones. The paper is textured, which gives the surface a fine grain.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)