Manet Seated, Turned to the Left (Manet assis, tourné à gauche)
c. 1861
Medium
etching on wove paper
Dimensions
sheet: 31 x 22 cm (12 3/16 x 8 11/16 in.)
Classification
Department
CG-E
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Rosenwald Collection
Accession Number
1950.1.52
Art Historical Context
This intimate etching by Edgar Degas captures his close friend and fellow artist Édouard Manet seated and turned slightly to the left. Created around 1861, early in both artists’ careers the print offers a personal glimpse into the vibrant Parisian art world of the 1860s, just before the Impressionist movement took shape. Degas, who would become renowned for his innovative compositions and interest in modern life, here pays tribute to Manet through a quiet, direct portrait that highlights their mutual respect and shared artistic circles. Executed in etching on wove paper, the work demonstrate...
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 ...