Portrait of a Woman in Gray
ca. 1865
Medium
Oil on canvas
Dimensions
36 x 28 1/2 in. (91.4 x 72.4 cm)
Classification
Paintings
Department
European Paintings
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Edwin C. Vogel, 1957
Accession Number
57.171
Tags
Art Historical Context
Edgar Degas's *Portrait of a Woman in Gray* (ca. 1865) captures the poised elegance of an unidentified sitter in this intimate oil-on-canvas work, measuring 36 x 28½ inches. Painted during Degas's early career, when he was transitioning from rigorous academic training under Ingres's influence toward the innovative spirit of Impressionism, the portrait showcases his masterful handling of subtle grays and soft lighting. The woman's direct gaze and simple attire evoke quiet introspection, a hallmark of Degas's realistic yet psychologically penetrating portraiture. At a time of rapid change in mi...
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 ...