Café-Concert Singer 1878 - 1880

Edgar Degas made this print of a Café-Concert Singer using etching and aquatint. Degas was working in Paris at a time when the city was experiencing rapid social and cultural changes, and popular entertainments such as café-concerts were booming. This image, typical of Degas's interest in modern life, portrays a woman in profile, captured in the act of singing. The stark lighting and unconventional composition reflect the influence of photography and Japanese prints, challenging academic traditions. Café-concerts occupied an ambiguous social space, attracting diverse audiences and blurring class distinctions. They employed working-class women, at a time when few public spaces existed for them. Degas himself was from a privileged background, and he was one of many artists who sought to portray these new urban entertainments. By studying the entertainment industry in 19th-century Paris, consulting newspapers, playbills, and other period documents, we gain a deeper understanding of the social dynamics at play in the artwork. These resources allow us to interpret the scene, not just as a depiction of entertainment, but as a window into the complex social fabric of its time.