Woman Reading (Liseuse)

Woman Reading (Liseuse), created by Edgar Degas in 1885, is a masterful example of the artist’s prolific experimentation with printmaking. This evocative image is rendered as a monotype in black ink on cream laid paper. Degas frequently utilized the monotype process during the period spanning 1876 to 1900, drawn to its spontaneity and unique ability to capture fleeting moments and atmospheric shadow. The medium, where ink is applied directly to a plate and transferred only once to the paper, yields a rich, velvety blackness and texture distinct from traditional etching or lithography, making each impression unique.

Characteristic of French Impressionism and the subsequent post-Impressionist periods, this work focuses intently on private, interior life. The figure is depicted wholly absorbed in her activity, the quiet intensity of reading underscored by the dramatic chiaroscuro effects inherent in the monotype technique. Unlike his earlier, more formal subjects, Degas became fascinated by moments of unposed domesticity, often catching his subjects unaware. This approach aligns the piece with Degas’s broader catalog of work concerning modern urban life and the female figure in unguarded, intimate settings. The heavy shadows defining the contours of the figure and the space around her create a psychological intimacy, suggesting a narrative beyond the mere act.

As a foundational piece among the artist’s significant body of prints, Woman Reading (Liseuse) demonstrates Degas's technical genius in manipulating dark tones to create depth and form rapidly. This delicate yet powerful French print from 1885 is held within the esteemed collection of the National Gallery of Art, where it is preserved for public study and appreciation. The technical innovation displayed here exemplifies why works from this era of printmaking are highly valued, often appearing in resources that provide access to high-resolution images of historical art, including those designated as public domain.