Artwork

Conversation: Ludovic Halévy and Madame Cardinal (The Conversation) for "La Famille Cardinal" by Ludovic Halévy

Conversation: Ludovic Halévy and Madame Cardinal (The Conversation) for "La Famille Cardinal" by Ludovic Halévy is a print by the Impressionist artist Edgar Degas. It dates from 1882 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.

About this work

Overview

This monotype is part of a series of over 30 illustrations Edgar Degas created for Ludovic Halévy's satirical stories, La Famille Cardinal. The work depicts an introductory scene from the narrative.

Subject & Meaning

The print shows Halévy, the narrator, discreetly arranging a rendezvous with one of Madame Cardinal's daughters in the dimly lit wings of the Opéra. The absence of the daughters underscores the implicit sexual availability of ballet dancers in late 19th-century Paris.

Technique & Style

Executed as a quick ink print on metal, the piece resembles a sketch. Degas employs chiaroscuro, with light barely illuminating the subjects' faces, creating a hushed, secretive atmosphere in the Opéra's coulisses.

History & Provenance

Originally intended to illustrate Halévy's stories, this monotype was part of Degas' contribution to the project, reflecting his connection with the author and the Parisian ballet world.

Context

Set in late 19th-century Paris, the scene reflects the reality that ballet careers often entailed sexual exploitation, with dancers from lower classes being available for hire beyond the stage.

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.