Zangeres en profil bij vier gaslampen in donkere omgeving

The print Zangeres en profil bij vier gaslampen in donkere omgeving was created by Edgar Degas between 1877 and 1878. This evocative work, executed on paper, exemplifies the artist's pioneering use of the medium of printmaking to capture the ephemeral scenes of modern Parisian life. Degas often frequented the vibrant café-concerts and theaters, using these venues as laboratories for studying human form, dramatic lighting, and candid poses.

Here, the unnamed singer is observed in stark profile, framed against the intense, haloed glow of four gas lamps. The deep shadows of the dark environment heighten the contrast, allowing the artificial light to dramatically define the contours of the performer. This technique, characteristic of Degas's nocturne studies of the era, reflects his Impressionist interest in the immediacy of vision and the expressive potential of light distortion. The composition underscores the isolation and focused intensity required of the performer on stage.

The piece belongs to a significant series of experimental prints, where Degas explored various techniques, including monotype, striving for textural effects and visual fluidity that blurred the line between drawing and finished artwork. This focus on a singer, contrasting with his celebrated studies of dancers, highlights the breadth of his commitment to documenting the working life of female performers in the entertainment industry. This important print is held in the permanent collection of the Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam. As an essential part of the artistic record of the late 19th century, this work, like many of Degas’s prints, is sometimes made available through public domain initiatives for study and reference.