Who painted In the Salon?

In the Salon was painted by Edgar Degas in 1884.

Where can I see In the Salon?

In the Salon is held by Cleveland Museum of Art.

What movement is In the Salon?

In the Salon is associated with Impressionism.

Artwork

In the Salon

Edgar Degas , 1884

In the Salon is a print by the Impressionist artist Edgar Degas. It dates from 1884 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.

Accession no.: 1977.44
Credit line: Andrew R. and Martha Holden Jennings Fund

About this work

Overview

In the Salon is a monotype print by Edgar Degas, part of a series exposing the lesser-known realities of Parisian brothels during the late 19th century.

Subject & Meaning

The print captures a serene yet poignant scene of three women in a dimly lit room under a luminous chandelier, conveying their fatigue, boredom, and introspection as they await clients.

Technique & Style

Degas employed chiaroscuro, leveraging strong contrasts of light and shadow to convey the emotional depth of the moment, eschewing overt drama for quiet contemplation.

Context

This work parallels the naturalist literature of Emile Zola and the Goncourt brothers, reflecting contemporary debates on prostitution's regulation in Paris.

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.