Portret van een vrouw

The Portret van een vrouw is an evocative drawing by Edgar Degas, created sometime during the long period spanning 1853 to 1910. Classified as a study or preparatory work, this piece demonstrates Degas’s foundational reliance on rigorous draughtsmanship, a practice he maintained throughout his career even as he moved into Impressionist circles. The technique employs chalk applied to geolied papier (oiled paper), a combination that allowed the artist to achieve both the softness and subtle transitions characteristic of chalk while imparting a rich depth similar to that found in pastels or oil sketches.

While Degas is most famously associated with his depictions of dancers, bathers, and the modern Parisian scene, his dedicated study of portraiture forms a significant and rigorous portion of his output. This work focuses intently on the unnamed sitter, capturing her face and expression with economical, focused lines typical of Degas's keen observational method. The loose yet controlled handling of the chalk suggests a spontaneous approach, prioritizing structure, light, and form over detailed finish. Such drawings were central to his creative process, allowing him to quickly explore anatomical structure and psychological depth.

This significant example of the artist’s skill is held in the prestigious collection of the Rijksmuseum, where it contributes to the institution’s holdings of 19th-century European drawings. Because the image is often utilized for academic research and visual study, high-resolution reproductions and prints of this foundational work are frequently made available through public domain initiatives, ensuring widespread access to Degas’s masterful draughtsmanship.