Study for "Mary Cassatt at the Louvre" [recto]

Study for "Mary Cassatt at the Louvre" [recto] by Edgar Degas is a crucial preparatory work created in 1879. This French drawing, executed on wove paper, showcases the artist’s precise technical exploration using graphite supplemented by the subtle effects of the blind stylus technique. This rare method involves using a sharp point to indent the paper without pigment, allowing for delicate textural variations and defined outlines that anticipate where light might fall in the final composition. The subtlety achieved through the combination of graphite and impressed lines reveals Degas’s focus on form and volume before the application of color.

Degas was highly engaged with depictions of modern Parisian life during the period of 1876 to 1900. This particular study focuses on the theme of observers within public spaces, a recurring motif in the artist's oeuvre, linking it directly to his definitive oil on canvas, Mary Cassatt at the Louvre: The Etruscan Gallery. Although the figure here is preparatory, the work captures the interior concentration of a museum viewer, emphasizing posture and dress typical of the late 19th-century. The preparatory study illustrates Degas's meticulous methodology of observing and recording figures in motion or repose, reflecting the naturalistic approach he championed.

As a drawing, the work provides direct insight into the master’s rapid decision-making process before committing to the finished painting. This classification underscores the ongoing importance of preliminary drafts within the French artistic tradition, even among artists breaking with established norms. The study emphasizes the linear structure and the placement of the subject within the confined geometry of the gallery setting. Today, this important piece resides in the esteemed collection of the National Gallery of Art. Due to the artwork’s age, high-quality digital prints of this influential work are frequently made available through resources that specialize in providing public domain artwork for scholarly study and public appreciation.