Artwork
Portrait of a Woman
Portrait of a Woman is an oil painting by the Impressionist artist Edgar Degas. It dates from 1889 and is held in the collection of the Detroit Institute of Arts.
About this work
Overview
Portrait of a Woman is an oil painting created by Edgar Degas in 1889. It is part of the collection at the Detroit Institute of Arts.
Subject & Meaning
The painting depicts a woman in profile, wearing dark clothing and a high, puffy hairstyle, with a loose bouquet of white and purple flowers behind her head. The subject's face is partially lit, with shadows accentuating her features.
Technique & Style
The artwork is characterized by quick, sketchy brushstrokes, particularly evident in the rendering of the subject's face and the background. The flowers are painted with loose, almost careless strokes, giving them a fresh, slightly disheveled appearance. Thick paint is used in certain areas, creating a textured effect.
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.
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