Artwork
Paul Lafond and Alphonse Cherfils Examining a Painting
Paul Lafond and Alphonse Cherfils Examining a Painting is an unspecified painting by the Impressionist artist Edgar Degas. It dates from 1879 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
About this work
Degas painted this for his friends—Paul Lafond, who later ran a museum, and Alphonse Cherfils, who helped Impressionists get shown.
You see two men standing close, studying a small painting held between them. One man wears glasses; the other has a beard. The room feels dim, with soft light falling on their faces and hands.
Degas painted this for his friends—Paul Lafond, who later ran a museum, and Alphonse Cherfils, who helped Impressionists get shown. The dedication in the corner makes it feel personal, like a snapshot of trust.
Look up more works by Edgar Degas (French, 1834–1917) to see how he painted everyday moments.
Overview
This double portrait by Edgar Degas depicts two men, Paul Lafond and Alphonse Cherfils, intently examining a small painting together. The work is distinguished by a personal dedication from Degas to his 'dear friends' in the upper left corner.
Subject & Meaning
The sitters are identified as Paul Lafond, future curator of Pau's art museum, and Alphonse Cherfils, an art collector who supported the Impressionists. The painting they hold is likely a Degas work, symbolizing the intersection of their personal and professional relationships with the artist.
Technique & Style
The scene is characterized by soft, dim lighting, with gentle illumination on the subjects' faces and hands, typical of Degas' ability to capture intimate, everyday moments. The composition conveys a sense of quiet contemplation.
History & Provenance
Through Lafond and Cherfils' influence, Degas' works were showcased at the Société des Amis des Arts. Notably, this connection facilitated the first museum acquisition of a Degas painting, *A Cotton Office* (1873).
Context
Created within Degas' broader practice of depicting modern life, this portrait highlights his circle of supportive friends and patrons who played a crucial role in promoting Impressionist art.
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.
