The Engraver Joseph Tourny

The Engraver Joseph Tourny by Edgar Degas French, 1834-1917, dates to 1857, representing a vital early phase in the artist’s prolific career. Executed in the difficult medium of etching, this print showcases the young Degas’s serious experimentation with graphic arts. The image is pulled on delicate cream Japanese paper, a material often favored by artists for its smooth texture and ability to absorb fine line work. Notably, this impression was taken from a cancelled plate, meaning the matrix was intentionally defaced after the initial print run, confirming its place as a historical record of the composition rather than a standard commercial edition.

While perhaps best known for his depictions of Parisian life and ballet dancers later in his life, Degas focused intently on portraiture during the mid-1850s, frequently depicting figures within his immediate social and artistic circle in France. Joseph Tourny, the subject, was a professional engraver, suggesting Degas actively sought connections with graphic artists and printmaking experts as he developed his own technical skills. This intense portrait study, captured using remarkably fine etched lines, emphasizes the subject’s contemplative expression and skill.

The meticulous detail required for such prints demonstrates Degas's commitment to mastering the conventions of traditional French graphic art before his later move toward Impressionism and subsequent experimentation with monotype. As a formative example of his early career prints, this work provides crucial insight into the artistic evolution of Degas. This important impression of The Engraver Joseph Tourny is held in the permanent collection of the Art Institute of Chicago. As a masterwork of 19th-century printmaking, the high-quality digital assets for this piece are often made available through public domain initiatives, allowing scholars worldwide to study Degas’s preparatory processes.