Young Woman Playing a Mandolin, Study for Portrait of Mlle. Fiocre in the Ballet "La Source"

The work Young Woman Playing a Mandolin, Study for Portrait of Mlle. Fiocre in the Ballet "La Source" by Edgar Degas French, 1834-1917, is an intimate graphite drawing executed on ivory laid paper between 1866 and 1868. Classified as a drawing, this piece served as a preparatory study for a larger, though ultimately unrealized, portrait of Eugénie Fiocre, a celebrated première danseuse at the Paris Opéra.

Degas created this study in France during a transitional phase in his career, moving away from historical themes toward subjects drawn from contemporary Parisian life, particularly the world of theater and performance. The subject, Eugénie Fiocre, was scheduled to perform the titular role in the revival of the ballet La Source. However, this rendering captures Fiocre in a private, relaxed moment, holding a mandolin rather than posing in her stage costume.

The meticulous use of graphite on laid paper demonstrates Degas’s sharp attention to detail and ability to capture subtle movement and texture. He emphasizes the soft contours of the figure, the flow of the garment, and the reflective qualities of the instrument. This early study shows the artist developing the psychological depth that would characterize his later portraits and scenes of dancers. The work documents a critical stage of Degas's methodology, focusing on the natural attitude and private dimension of the performer. This significant drawing currently resides in the collection of the Art Institute of Chicago. As a historical artwork, digital versions and high-quality prints of this important study are often made available through public domain initiatives for academic research.