Alphonse Hirsch 20 - 1875

Edgar Degas's "Alphonse Hirsch" is an etching that captures the likeness of the artist's friend and fellow Impressionist painter. The portrait, created around 1875, showcases Degas's mastery of the medium, rendering Hirsch's features with delicate lines and subtle shading. The work, currently housed in The Art Institute of Chicago, exemplifies Degas's interest in capturing the essence of his subjects, particularly the intellectual and artistic personalities of his contemporaries. The intimate composition, focusing solely on Hirsch's head and shoulders, creates a sense of closeness and personal connection between viewer and subject.