[Self-Portrait with Zoé Closier] 1895

This is a self-portrait of Edgar Degas with Zoé Closier, captured in a photograph. During the late 19th century, photography was gaining traction as both an artistic medium and a tool for documentation, and Degas, known for his paintings of dancers and Parisian life, embraced its potential. Degas's artistic choices often blurred the lines between the public and private spheres, and it's interesting to consider how this photograph plays with those themes, especially in its approach to gender and representation. The composition is striking: Degas sits in the foreground, his gaze direct, while Zoé Closier stands behind him, almost like a shadow. It's tempting to interpret this image through a feminist lens. Is Closier's subdued presence a commentary on the limited roles available to women in society at the time? Or is Degas, by including her in his self-portrait, attempting to acknowledge the women who shaped his world? This photograph invites us to consider the dynamics of power and visibility, both within the frame and within the broader social landscape of the time.