Edgar Degas
1882
Medium
graphite on paperboard
Dimensions
overall: 48.2 x 31.5 cm (19 x 12 3/8 in.)
Classification
Drawing
Department
CG-E
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Collection of Mr. and Mrs. Paul Mellon
Accession Number
1995.47.57
Rights
Public Domain
Art Historical Context
In 1882, French artist Paul Mathey created this striking graphite drawing on paperboard, titled *Edgar Degas*, capturing the likeness of one of the era's most innovative painters. Measuring 48.2 x 31.5 cm, the work offers an intimate glimpse into the Impressionist circle, where Mathey, a contemporary and admirer of Degas, rendered his subject with precise, delicate lines and subtle shading. Graphite's versatility shines here, allowing for soft tonal gradations that convey Degas's intense gaze and thoughtful demeanor, hallmarks of preparatory sketches in 19th-century French art. This portrait ...