On Stage I

The print On Stage I by Edgar Degas French, 1834-1917, was created in 1876. This important work, classified as a print, demonstrates Degas’s experimental engagement with graphic media during the height of the Impressionist era. The piece was executed using soft ground etching and drypoint in black on ivory wove paper. This technical combination allowed Degas to capture the textural quality of figures and stage costumes with subtle nuance. The soft ground technique yields a delicate, grainy texture that contrasts sharply with the rich, velvety lines achieved through the drypoint needle, offering a depth of tone unusual in traditional 19th-century etching.

Degas, though often associated with Impressionism, maintained a distinct focus on realism, capturing the unvarnished moments of modern Parisian life. He was particularly drawn to the fleeting movements and hidden labor of dancers and performers, scenes he explored exhaustively across his body of work. This view of the stage or wing reflects the artist’s characteristic interest in unconventional cropping and dynamic composition, suggesting the influence of photography and Japanese prints on his style.

As a significant example of French graphic arts from this period, this image reflects the artistic explorations occurring in France during the Third Republic. Today, the original resides within the distinguished print collection of the Art Institute of Chicago, offering scholars access to a key moment in Degas’s printmaking career. Due to its cultural importance, this work is frequently studied, and high-quality prints and materials related to the original are often made available through public domain initiatives.