Who painted René-Hilaire de Gas, Grandfather of the Artist?

René-Hilaire de Gas, Grandfather of the Artist was painted by Edgar Degas in 1856.

Where can I see René-Hilaire de Gas, Grandfather of the Artist?

René-Hilaire de Gas, Grandfather of the Artist is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is René-Hilaire de Gas, Grandfather of the Artist?

René-Hilaire de Gas, Grandfather of the Artist is associated with Impressionism.

Can I buy a print of René-Hilaire de Gas, Grandfather of the Artist?

Museum-quality prints of René-Hilaire de Gas, Grandfather of the Artist are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

Artwork

René-Hilaire de Gas, Grandfather of the Artist

Edgar Degas , 1856

René-Hilaire de Gas, Grandfather of the Artist is an ink print by the Impressionist artist Edgar Degas. It dates from 1856 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

René-Hilaire de Gas, Grandfather of the Artist (1856) is an etching and drypoint print by French artist Edgar Degas, depicting his maternal grandfather in a side view with a hat covering his face, accompanied by a smaller, secondary face sketch.

Subject & Meaning

The print portrays a personal figure from Degas's family history, reflecting his early exploration of portraiture beyond his more commonly associated subjects, such as dance.

Technique & Style

Characterized by loose, scratchy lines, the work utilizes drypoint to achieve sharp, uneven marks by scraping metal, contrasting with the smoother effects of ink-based etching techniques.

History & Provenance

Created in 1856, this early work showcases Degas's broader artistic interests in printmaking and portraiture, preceding his more renowned Impressionist and realist works in other mediums.

Context

While Degas is often linked to Impressionism (though he preferred 'realist'), this piece highlights his foundational engagement with traditional techniques like etching and drypoint, common among 19th-century artists.

Legacy

As an early example of Degas's printmaking, René-Hilaire de Gas, Grandfather of the Artist contributes to the understanding of his development as a multifaceted artist, though it remains less prominent than his later, more characteristic works.

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Artist & collection

Artist

Edgar Degas

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.