Mlle Bécat

Mlle Bécat, created by Edgar Degas between 1877 and 1878, is a highly refined example of the artist’s prolific and experimental career in graphic arts. Classified as a print, this French work was executed using the demanding monotype process on laid paper. The monotype technique, where ink is applied to a plate and transferred only once, results in a unique image that blurs the lines between drawing, painting, and printing, affording Degas an opportunity for spontaneous, immediate expression.

Executed during the significant period of 1876 to 1900, this work reflects the shifting artistic sensibilities of the late 19th century, prioritizing the captured moment and the psychological depth of its subject. Degas frequently utilized the subtle gradations possible in monotype to depict the fleeting glamour and shadowed backstage life of the Parisian café-concert and theater worlds. The resulting image often features rich, velvety tones and dramatic contrasts, emphasizing movement and atmosphere rather than static detail.

Degas's fascination with the monotype method allowed him to develop the linear and compositional studies that would inform his subsequent pastels and oil paintings. The technical complexity and unique character of this approach solidified his reputation not only as a master painter but also as a profound innovator in the field of modern prints. Today, this distinctive piece resides within the permanent collection of the National Gallery of Art. As this important piece of French art is carefully preserved and often digitized, high-resolution reproductions of the work are frequently available through public domain resources, aiding scholarly research into Degas’s pivotal artistic period.