Artwork
Portrait of a woman
Portrait of a woman is an oil painting by the Impressionist artist Edgar Degas. It dates from 1884 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Victoria.
About this work
Overview
Portrait of a Woman is an oil painting created by Edgar Degas around 1884, featuring a solitary female figure. The work is part of the collection at the National Gallery of Victoria.
Subject & Meaning
The painting depicts a woman with her face slightly turned to the left, wearing dark hair pulled back and a dark, enveloping dress or cloak. Her expression and the overall mood of the piece convey quiet intimacy.
Technique & Style
Degas employed a dark, muted color palette and soft, gentle brushstrokes to render the subject's features. The use of chiaroscuro creates depth and dimensionality, with contrasting light and dark areas adding volume to the figure.
History & Provenance
Created circa 1884, the painting's provenance is documented through its current holding at the National Gallery of Victoria, though specific details of its journey to the gallery are not provided here.
Own this work as a print
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.
