René-Hilaire De Gas, Grandfather of the Artist 1856 - 1857

Edgar Degas created this etching called *René-Hilaire De Gas, Grandfather of the Artist* sometime in the 19th century. Degas came from a wealthy family of bankers, and he was deeply interested in portraiture throughout his career. While portraiture, particularly family portraiture, has a long history in Western art, Degas often approached it with a modern sensibility. Here, the image of his grandfather is not idealized. Instead, we see a more intimate, perhaps vulnerable, depiction. This was a period of significant social change, with evolving ideas about family, class, and representation. Degas, like other Impressionists, sought to capture the nuances of contemporary life, moving away from traditional, staged portrayals. What might it have been like to sit for Degas, to be seen through his modern eyes? As you stand before this etching, consider the changing landscape of identity and representation during Degas' time, and how he navigated these shifts through his art.