Degas in a Black Frock Coat (Self-Portrait)
circa 1854-1855
Here we see a very young Edgar Degas, painted around 1855 when he was just 21, long before he became the famous Impressionist known for ballerinas. He stares out with an intense, almost brooding gaze, sporting a faint mustache and dressed in a formal black frock coat. It's fascinating to see him here in such a traditional, academic style—dark and moody—completely different from the light, airy pastels he would later champion. It feels like a snapshot of a young artist trying to look the part of a serious master before he revolutionized art.
Views: 7