Youth with Arms Upraised

Art Historical Context

In the Robert Lehman Collection at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Degas's *Youth with Arms Upraised (ca. 1859–60 or 1861–62) captures the artist's early mastery of the human form. Created when Degas was in his mid-20s, this drawing fine beige paper—executed in black chalk over pencil—depicts a dynamic male nude in a poised, upward-reaching gesture. Measuring just 12½ × 7⅝ inches, its intimate scale close contemplation, highlighting Degas's academic training under masters like Ingres, who emphasized precise linework and anatomical precision. This work reflects Degas's youthful fascination wit...

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 ...