Café-Concert (The Spectators)

Café-Concert (The Spectators) by Edgar Degas French, 1834-1917, executed between 1876 and 1877, is a significant example of the artist’s groundbreaking experimental prints. Classified formally as a print, the work employs the complex combination of pastel over monotype on buff wove paper, laid down on tan card. Degas pioneered the use of the monotype process, which involves drawing in printer’s ink on a plate and then running it through a press to create a singular, unique impression. This foundational print provided the perfect texture and tonal variations for him to then apply dry media, utilizing the expressive color and textural qualities of pastel.

The subject captures a slice of modern social life in 19th-century France, specifically focusing on the audience absorbing the spectacle of the café-concert. Degas often framed his subjects abruptly, mimicking the spontaneity of a snapshot and suggesting the artificial, gas-lit atmosphere of these popular entertainment venues. In this piece, the artist’s interest lies less in the performers and more in the psychological distance and subtle interactions among the spectators. The combination of drawing and unique prints allowed Degas to continuously refine and revisit common themes of Parisian leisure and the observation of the urban crowd.

The technical complexity and profound social observation inherent in this piece solidify its position as a key work of the period. This pastel over monotype resides in the esteemed collection of the Art Institute of Chicago. As a masterwork created prior to 1928, high-quality images of this piece are frequently available in the public domain, making it accessible for study and reproduction worldwide.