Women in Front of a Café, Evening

"Women in Front of a Café, Evening" is a rare and intimate print executed by Edgar Degas French, 1834-1917, created during the decade spanning 1872 to 1882. This piece utilizes the demanding technique of monotype cognate, produced by applying ink directly to a plate and then transferring the impression onto ivory wove paper, which was later laid down onto a secondary sheet. The monotype process, which Degas explored intensely during this period, allowed the artist to create unique, highly textured images that effectively blur the lines between traditional drawing and printmaking. The application of ink in the monotype medium lends a rich, velvety blackness to the scene, perfectly capturing the obscurity of the twilight setting.

As a key observer of modern Parisian life, Degas often focused his attention on the private moments found within the city's public spaces. This work captures the hushed atmosphere of an evening scene, likely depicting women at leisure or waiting outside a French establishment. The darkness and asymmetrical compositional arrangement emphasize the psychological distance between the figures and the viewer, a hallmark of Degas's mature style in portraying the anonymity of urban existence.

Although fundamentally classified as a print, the unique nature of the monotype ensures that each impression possesses distinct atmospheric qualities. This intimate depiction from France is a foundational example of how Degas revolutionized graphic arts, moving away from traditional etching toward experimental, one-of-a-kind printmaking. The work, which offers profound insight into nineteenth-century society and is frequently studied and shared through public domain resources, is housed within the esteemed collection of the Art Institute of Chicago.