Woman in a Ruffled Cap
1860
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
1860
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
A woman sits in profile, her face half-lit under a ruffled white cap. The lines are rough, almost scribbled, but her expression feels quiet and real. Degas made this early in his career, when he was copying Rembrandt’s prints. He borrowed Rembrandt’s way of scratching light and shadow into metal—no smooth shading, just sharp, uneven marks. Only four prints of this image exist, since Degas never made more. Look up Rembrandt’s etchings next—they show the same play of light and dark.
