Marie Dihau
Original title: Marie Dihau (1843–1935)
kurzbeschreibung
Edgar Degas painted Marie Dihau in 1867–68 in oil on canvas. The musician appears in half-profile, wearing a hat and a fur-trimmed jacket, seated at a table with a vase and a piece of fruit.
Description
Marie Dihau sits in profile, looking to the left. Her dark hat is adorned with a flower, and the black jacket is trimmed with fur. On the table in front of her stands a painted vase in red and green, with a piece of fruit on a plate beside it. Side light enters and highlights the contours of the figure and objects. The palette remains restrained, and the brushwork of the oil paint is clearly visible. The layout is simple and focused entirely on the woman and the objects.
Context
In the late 1860s, Degas portrayed the pianist Marie Dihau, a close confidante. At that time he turned increasingly to portraiture and moved away from academic history painting. Dihau belonged to Degas's circle of artists who regularly frequented the Paris Salon. The picture shows an informal, private scene, reflecting Degas's preference for relaxed everyday subjects.
Impact
The plain arrangement and muted colors give the portrait a calm, intimate mood. The averted gaze and soft light create a thoughtful atmosphere that invites the viewer to observe quietly.
Technique
Oil paint on canvas, with visible brushstrokes that form a pastose surface. Degas modeled the texture of the clothing and the surfaces of the objects with fine transitions of light and shadow. The small dimensions of about 22 x 27 cm suggest an intimate, sketch-like execution.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)