Factory Smoke

"Factory Smoke" by Edgar Degas, created between 1877 and 1879, is a compelling example of the artist’s deep engagement with the monotype technique. This influential print was produced using black ink on laid paper, demonstrating Degas’s relentless experimentation outside of traditional painting media. Monotype, often referred to as the "painterly print," involves inking a smooth plate, selectively removing or manipulating the pigment, and then running the plate through a press to achieve a single, unique impression. This spontaneous and atmospheric process was ideally suited to capturing the transitory effects of light and the industrial landscape.

While Degas is most famously associated with his studies of Parisian leisure and the theatrical world, he dedicated significant energy in the late 1870s to producing small-scale works depicting the changing urban environment. Factory Smoke captures the stark visual impact of industrialization, focusing on the billowing cloud dominating the composition. Degas utilizes the high contrast inherent in the black ink on laid paper to evoke the grittiness and dynamic expansion characteristic of modern life in Paris.

The experimental nature of this piece places it among the approximately fifty atmospheric monotypes Degas created during this period, exploring landscapes, factory scenes, and other non-traditional subjects. This specific impression is housed in the distinguished collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York. As a foundational work in the history of modern prints, this piece illustrates the innovative spirit that defined Impressionism. Important historical prints like this are frequently studied and, when rights allow, made available through public domain initiatives worldwide.