Head of a Woman in Profile

Art Historical Context

Edgar Degas, a leading figure in the Impressionist, crafted this delicate *Head of a Woman in Profile* around 1879–80, during his innovative phase as a printmaker. Though renowned for his paintings of ballet dancers and modern Parisian life, Degas turned to printmaking to explore intimate, off-center compositions and the female form. This small-scale work captures a woman's profile with poised elegance, emphasizing contour and subtle expression against a minimal background—a hallmark of his fascination with everyday subjects rendered with psychological depth. Printed on laid paper using softground etching, aquatint, and drypoint, the piece showcases Degas' experimental techniques. Softground etching yields soft, velvety lines mimicking pencil strokes, while aquatint creates rich tonal gradients for shadow and texture. Drypoint adds fine, burr-rich details for immediacy and sparkle. Remarkably, this is a *unique impression*, meaning no other prints exist, highlighting Degas' penchant for one-of-a-kind works that pushed beyond traditional editioning. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings and Prints department as part of the prestigious H.O. Havemeyer Collection (bequeathed in 1929), it exemplifies late-19th-century innovation in graphics. For visitors, it offers a window into Degas' mastery of light, line, and femininity, inviting close contemplation of its tactile intimacy.

About the Artist

Edgar Degas · 1834–1917

Edgar Degas (1834-1917) stands as one of the most innovative artists of the nineteenth century, whose distinctive vision transformed how modern life could be depicted on canvas. Born Hilaire-Germain-Edgar De Gas in Paris to a wealthy banking family—his father French, his mother a Louisiana Creole from New Orleans—Degas received a classical education before abandoning law studies in 1855 to pursue ...