Virginie Being Admired While the Marquis Cavalcanti Looks On

"Virginie Being Admired While the Marquis Cavalcanti Looks On" by Edgar Degas is a profound example of the artist’s dedication to experimental printmaking techniques utilized between 1871 and 1881. Classified as a print, this rare and subtle work was created using monotype in black ink, subsequently touched with pastel on wove paper. This hybrid medium allowed Degas to merge the spontaneity of drawing with the rich tonal variations inherent in printing, granting the scene an intense atmospheric quality.

The subject matter, typical of Degas’s observational focus on modern life, centers on a private social interaction. The figures of Virginie and the Marquis Cavalcanti are realized with minimal definition, emerging from deep shadows achieved through the monotype process. In this technique, the artist works directly on a plate that is then pressed onto paper only once, making each impression unique. The resulting black forms, initially stark, were softened and detailed through the strategic application of pastel, a process Degas often employed to refine light, texture, and contour.

Created within the pivotal French art period of 1851 to 1875, this piece reflects the increasing interest among artists in capturing scenes from contemporary Parisian society and the intimate spaces where these interactions occurred. While the artist is globally recognized for his depictions of dancers, Degas’s extensive and innovative work in prints, especially the monotype, constitutes a critical and often darker dimension of his output. This work showcases the master’s psychological insight and his unconventional approach to composition, relying heavily on shadow and suggestion rather than explicit detail. This unique drawing-print hybrid resides in the permanent collection of the National Gallery of Art. High-resolution images of such historic prints are often made available by the museum, supporting scholarship and broader public domain access to art historical resources.