Artwork
Actresses in Their Dressing Rooms
Actresses in Their Dressing Rooms is an ink print by the Impressionist artist Edgar Degas. It dates from 1880 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Actresses in Their Dressing Rooms is an 1880 etching and aquatint print on wove paper by French artist Edgar Degas, showcasing his ability to capture intimate, everyday moments.
Subject & Meaning
The print depicts two actresses in a private, backstage setting, emphasizing their personal preparation rather than public performance. The scene conveys a sense of quiet, unguarded intimacy.
Technique & Style
Degas employed etching and aquatint to achieve textured, expressive lines and soft, dim lighting. Dark lines and rough wooden panel details evoke a sense of tactility, characteristic of his realist approach.
History & Provenance
Created in 1880, this work reflects Degas's broader interest in behind-the-scenes glimpses of performers, diverging from his more common depictions of dancers in motion.
Context
While associated with Impressionism, Degas identified as a realist. This piece aligns with his realist leanings, focusing on the mundane aspects of performers' lives rather than the glamour of the stage.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
Artist
Born Hilaire-Germain-Edgar De Gas on 19 July 1834 in Paris, Edgar Degas came from an affluent banking family with aristocratic roots and spent his childhood among the cultivated circles of the French capital.
- Social Triumph (Le Triomphe mondain)
Actresses in Their Dressing Rooms
At the Cafe des Ambassadeurs (Aux Ambassadeurs)
Loges d'actrices
Les Adieux (The Parting)
The Murder (Le Meurtre)
Lender Dancing the Bolero in "Chilperic" (Lender dansant le pas du boléro dans "Chilpéric")
Mademoiselle Bécat at the Cafe des Ambassadeurs (Aux Ambassadeurs: Mlle Bécat)
Les Soutiens de la société
On the Stage (Sur la scène)
Dis donc, Bichette... a quoi songes-tu donc...
The Fantastic Dress