The Actress Ellen Andrée

The Actress Ellen Andrée by Edgar Degas French, 1834-1917, is a highly regarded example of the artist's profound dedication to printmaking during the late 1870s. Executed in 1879, this significant work utilizes the challenging medium of drypoint on buff laid paper. The drypoint technique, where the artist draws directly onto the plate with a sharp point, raising a burr that catches the ink, allows for unique, velvety lines. Degas often exploited the immediacy and expressive potential of this method, reflecting his observational and seemingly spontaneous approach to modern portraiture.

The subject, Ellen Andrée, was a celebrated actress and model frequently captured by Parisian artists, embodying the vibrant social scene of 19th-century France. Known for her roles in popular theaters, the actress symbolized the era’s burgeoning celebrity culture. Degas focused heavily on capturing figures in performance or moments of candid action, moving away from traditional, formal studio sittings. While the sitter is specifically identified as an "Actress," the composition retains the intimate, observational quality typical of the artist’s oeuvre, revealing the subject’s personality through swift, economical lines.

This particular impression of The Actress Ellen Andrée is held in the renowned collection of the Art Institute of Chicago, illustrating the museum’s commitment to documenting pivotal French graphic arts from the Impressionist period. As a masterpiece among Degas’s extensive catalog of prints, the image remains a valuable resource for studying the visual culture of France in 1879. High-resolution images of this work are often made available through public domain initiatives, ensuring widespread access to the masterworks of this celebrated French artist.