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Study for "Mary Cassatt at the Louvre" [recto]

Edgar Degas

1879

graphite

paper

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

Impressionism Realism Late 19th Century

Dominant colour

Study for "Mary Cassatt at the Louvre" [recto] is a 1879 graphite by Edgar Degas, a Impressionism work, held at National Gallery of Art.

Who painted this?: Edgar Degas
When & what style?: 1879 · Impressionism
Where can I see it?: National Gallery of Art

About this work

This sketch shows two quick drawings on the same paper. On the left, a woman stands with her back to us, wearing a simple dress with a low neckline. Her hair is pulled up, and she holds something in her left hand. On the right, a child sits on the ground, also facing away, with one arm resting on their knee. The paper has faint grid lines, likely used to help Degas place figures accurately. The lines are light, almost like a guide for a bigger painting. Next, look up Degas, Edgar to see how he used sketches like this in his work.

About the artist

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.

See the richer artist page