Landscape

The work Landscape, created by the French master Edgar Degas (1834–1917) in 1892, showcases the artist’s highly innovative exploration of media beyond his famous depictions of dancers. Classified as a print, this piece utilized a complex combination of techniques to achieve its shimmering, atmospheric effect. Degas first created a color monotype, a meticulous process of painting directly onto a metal plate before running it through a press. He then substantially modified this initial impression with heavy subsequent applications of pastel, adding texture, light, and atmospheric depth. The foundation material was a pink wove paper, which has naturally altered over time to a subtle tan shade, enhancing the work’s aged and muted quality.

Although Degas is best known for his intimate Parisian interiors and studies of the human figure, he devoted significant attention to landscapes later in his career, often during visits to the French countryside. These abstract, evocative studies, such as Landscape, demonstrate his mastery of color and his dedication to printmaking experimentation in the final decades of the 19th century. The intricate wiping and incising present in the monotype foundation reveal Degas's technical genius in manipulating line and surface, blurring the traditional boundaries between painting, drawing, and print. This important work from 1892 resides within the esteemed collection of the Art Institute of Chicago, offering crucial insight into the late period of this influential French artist. Reproductions of these masterly prints are often featured in public domain archives, ensuring widespread access to Degas’s innovative techniques.