Artwork
Mademoiselle Malot
Mademoiselle Malot is an oil painting by the Impressionist artist Edgar Degas. It dates from 1877 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Though often linked to the Impressionist circle, Degas identified himself more with realist concerns, emphasizing observation of everyday subjects.
Created circa 1877, *Mademoiselle Malot* is an oil on canvas work by the French artist Edgar Degas. Though often linked to the Impressionist circle, Degas identified himself more with realist concerns, emphasizing observation of everyday subjects. The painting presents a solitary figure within an interior space, reflecting the artist’s interest in capturing the physical presence and temperament of his sitters.
Subject & Meaning
The composition centers on a young woman seated at a table, attired in an elaborate dress that suggests a modest social standing. Her expression is sober and composed, conveying a sense of introspection rather than decorative charm. Degas’s treatment underscores a straightforward portrayal of character, avoiding the idealized sentiment common in contemporary portraiture.
Technique & Style
Executed in oil, the work displays Degas’s careful modeling of form through layered brushwork, allowing subtle variations of light across the figure’s clothing and skin. The painter forgoes the loose, atmospheric handling typical of plein‑air painting, opting instead for a controlled, almost sculptural rendering that highlights texture and volume within the confined interior.
History & Provenance
The canvas was produced during a period when Degas was expanding his repertoire beyond the ballet scenes that dominate his reputation, exploring private portraiture. While the painting’s early ownership records are limited, it entered public collections in the twentieth century, where it has been cited as an example of Degas’s realist approach within his broader oeuvre.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Born Hilaire-Germain-Edgar De Gas on 19 July 1834 in Paris, Edgar Degas came from an affluent banking family with aristocratic roots and spent his childhood among the cultivated circles of the French capital.
