Self-Portrait

Self-Portrait by Edgar Degas, executed between 1855 and 1856, offers an intimate glimpse into the artist's foundational academic period. This powerful work is meticulously rendered using oil on paper, a substrate often employed for detailed studies, which was subsequently laid down on canvas for preservation. The classification of the piece as a drawing highlights the intense focus on line and form that characterized Degas’s early training, anticipating his later mastery of the human figure, long before his association with the Impressionist movement solidified. The medium itself acts as a bridge between pure draftsmanship and fully realized oil painting.

The subject of this intense self-portrait depicts the young man looking directly outward, embodying the serious introspection typical of such formal studies. Degas utilized the rich texture of oil paint to create volume and depth, yet maintained the crisp precision learned from his mentors during his formative years studying the Old Masters. Unlike the highly spontaneous works of his mature career, this piece demonstrates a rigorous adherence to classical academic standards and techniques. The intensity captured in the gaze confirms the artist's dedication to mastering psychological realism. Today, the work resides in the permanent collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. The enduring legacy of this study ensures that high-quality prints, derived from the museum's extensive imaging, are widely available through public domain art initiatives.