Who painted Three Studies of Ludovic Halévy Standing?

Three Studies of Ludovic Halévy Standing was painted by Edgar Degas in 1880.

Where can I see Three Studies of Ludovic Halévy Standing?

Three Studies of Ludovic Halévy Standing is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is Three Studies of Ludovic Halévy Standing?

Three Studies of Ludovic Halévy Standing is associated with Impressionism.

Artwork

Three Studies of Ludovic Halévy Standing

Edgar Degas , 1880

Three Studies of Ludovic Halévy Standing is a charcoal drawing by the Impressionist artist Edgar Degas. It dates from 1880 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

Created circa 1880, this work by Edgar Degas consists of three charcoal counterproof studies on buff wove paper. Each panel records a standing figure of Ludovic Halévy, a frequent sitter and confidant of Degas, captured in successive, slightly varied poses.

Subject & Meaning

The three figures are rendered from behind, each dressed in a long coat and hat, emphasizing the play of fabric and the silhouette rather than facial expression. By focusing on the drapery and posture, Degas investigates the dynamics of movement and the way clothing folds in space.

Technique & Style

Degas employed a counterproof method, pressing charcoal onto the paper to produce a reversed, spontaneous image. The lines are loose and gestural, with uneven, textured marks that convey immediacy, suggesting the drawing served as a rapid visual note rather than a finished composition.

History & Provenance

The drawing belongs to Degas’s extensive series of studies of acquaintances, a practice that complemented his more public works of dancers and bathers. While specific ownership details are limited, the piece reflects Degas’s ongoing interest in capturing everyday gestures through quick, observational sketches.

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.