Édouard Manet, Seated, Right Profile

Édouard Manet, Seated, Right Profile by Edgar Degas is an intimate black chalk drawing executed between 1863 and 1873. The medium, applied to faded pink wove paper, lends a subtle warmth to the stark monochrome lines. This classification as a drawing emphasizes the work's spontaneous, investigative nature, typical of Degas’s preparatory studies and candid portraits of his inner circle.

The subject is the pioneering French painter Édouard Manet, shown in thoughtful repose. This portrait captures a crucial period of artistic influence and collaboration between two giants of French modern art. Degas renders Manet in a sharply defined right profile, emphasizing the contours of his head and his contemplative gaze. The seated posture suggests an informal study, one of many depictions Degas created of fellow artists and friends that prioritize psychological insight over formal arrangement.

The drawing technique showcases Degas’s mastery of line, using the chalk primarily to block out form rather than relying on heavy shading, highlighting the skeletal structure and underlying character of the man. The decade-long range assigned to the creation of the piece reflects the possibility that Degas returned to the drawing over time, constantly refining or reconsidering the portrait. This key drawing, which provides valuable context into the relationships between influential nineteenth-century artists, resides in the permanent collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. High-resolution images and prints of this foundational work are often made available through public domain initiatives, allowing broader access to Degas's skillful draftsmanship.