Who painted Study for "Mary Cassatt at the Louvre" [verso]?

Study for "Mary Cassatt at the Louvre" [verso] was painted by Edgar Degas in 1879.

Where can I see Study for "Mary Cassatt at the Louvre" [verso]?

Study for "Mary Cassatt at the Louvre" [verso] is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is Study for "Mary Cassatt at the Louvre" [verso]?

Study for "Mary Cassatt at the Louvre" [verso] is associated with Impressionism.

Artwork

Study for "Mary Cassatt at the Louvre" [verso]

Edgar Degas , 1879

Study for "Mary Cassatt at the Louvre" [verso] is a drawing by the Impressionist artist Edgar Degas. It dates from 1879 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

Created circa 1879, this drawing by Edgar Degas—often linked to Impressionism yet preferring the label realist—shows the artist’s preparatory work for a larger composition titled “Mary Cassett at the Louvre.” Executed on wove paper, the piece employs a carbon and soft‑ground wax transfer, a method Degas explored alongside his more familiar drawings of dancers and figures.

Technique & Style

Degas applied a carbon medium combined with a soft‑ground wax transfer, a process that allowed him to achieve delicate tonal variations and precise line work on the smooth surface of wove paper. The technique reflects his experimental approach to printmaking, emphasizing controlled marks and a muted palette that echo his broader drawing practice.

Subject & Meaning

While the drawing is a study rather than a finished image, it hints at the composition’s focus on Mary Cassatt within the Louvre’s interior. The preparatory nature suggests Degas was concerned with arranging figures and spatial relationships, aligning with his interest in capturing everyday moments through a realist lens.

Context

The late 1870s marked a period when Degas was expanding beyond his celebrated ballet scenes, engaging with portraiture and collaborative projects with fellow artists such as Cassatt. This study illustrates his willingness to experiment with new media while maintaining his commitment to observing contemporary life.

Legacy

Works like this study illuminate Degas’s versatility and his contribution to the development of modern drawing techniques. By integrating printmaking processes into his practice, he broadened the visual vocabulary that would influence subsequent generations of artists exploring mixed media.

Artist & collection

Artist

Edgar Degas

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.