Head and Shoulders of a Young Woman in Profile I

Art Historical Context

Edgar Degas, a leading French Impressionist, captured the delicate profile of a young woman in this intimate print from around 1879. Titled *Head and Shoulders of Young Woman in Profile I it exemplifies Degas's fascination with female subjects, often depicted with a keen eye for posture and expression. During the late 1870s, Degas was deeply engaged in the Impressionist movement, blending everyday scenes with innovative techniques, though he preferred working in his studio rather than en plein air. This work is a softground etching, a method where Degas drew on paper laid over a plate coated in a soft, waxy ground, creating fluid, drawing-like lines that mimic pencil strokes. Printed from a canceled plate—deliberately scored to prevent further editions—it results in a unique impression with subtle variations, highlighting Degas's experimental approach to printmaking. The modest plate size (just 3 3/16 x 2 13/16 inches) invites close viewing, emphasizing the fine details of the woman's hair and neckline. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings and Prints department, this piece from The Elisha Whittelsey Collection showcases Degas's mastery in translating his painterly sensitivity to print, offering visitors a rare glimpse into his technical innovation and enduring interest in the female form.

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 ...