Marie Dihau (1843–1935)
1867–68
Medium
Oil on canvas
Dimensions
8 3/4 x 10 3/4 in. (22.2 x 27.3 cm)
Classification
Paintings
Department
European Paintings
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
H. O. Havemeyer Collection, Bequest of Mrs. H. O. Havemeyer, 1929
Accession Number
29.100.182
Tags
Art Historical Context
In the intimate portrait *Marie Dihau* (1867–68), Edgar Degas the poised profile of his subject, a woman rendered with delicate precision in oil on canvas. Measuring just 8¾ x 10¾ inches, this small-scale work exemplifies Degas's early mastery of portraiture, created during his formative years in Paris when he was influenced by classical traditions and contemporaries like Édouard Manet. The profile view, a nod to Renaissance and Ingres-inspired elegance, highlights Degas's to subtle details—such as the subject's attire, a purse clutched in her hand, and the soft fall of light on her features—e...
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 ...