Portrait of Edgar Degas, wearing a hat (1876, Met-Objekt 597)
Original title: Portrait of Edgar Degas, wearing a hat
kurzbeschreibung
In 1876, Marcellin Desboutin made a drypoint portrait of the painter Edgar Degas in profile, wearing a top hat. This impression is the second of two states. It belongs among the artist portraits from the Parisian Impressionist circle.
Description
Edgar Degas appears in side profile, a top hat on his head, wearing a collared shirt. He casually rests his left arm on his hip and turns his gaze toward the viewer. The background stays sparse, pushing the figure forward. The direction and depth of the engraved lines create varying grays; light falls evenly, without shadow. Face and clothing are rendered with many details.
Context
Desboutin worked as both painter and printmaker and moved in the circle around Édouard Manet and Edgar Degas. The portrait was made in 1876, a time when Impressionism was gaining ground in Paris. Degas was already recognized as a painter, while Desboutin was known for his etchings and drypoints. This sheet belongs to a series of artist portraits Desboutin produced in the 1870s.
Impact
The tight space and the sitter's direct gaze create a calm, familiar mood. The precise linework of the drypoint gives the portrait a graphic sharpness that underscores Degas's personality. The restriction to a single color feels sober and focuses attention.
Technique
In drypoint, the drawing is scratched directly into the copper plate. The resulting burr produces soft, velvety lines when printed, and here these carry the shading. The second state shows a reworked plate with additional tonal gradations.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)