1857
ink
paper
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Self-Portrait (Edgar Degas, par lui-même) is a 1857 ink by Edgar Degas, a Impressionism work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This sketch shows a man in a dark coat and wide-brimmed hat, looking straight ahead with a serious expression. The lines are rough and scratchy, almost like quick notes on paper. His collar is high, and the fabric looks textured, with shadows under his chin. The artist used a technique that lets ink sit in the carved lines, making the image pop against the pale background. This kind of drawing was often done fast, to catch the real feel of the person. Next, check out etching to see how artists like Degas made these detailed prints.
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.
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