Head, Study for a Portrait of Mme Salle c. 1892

This is Edgar Degas's Head, Study for a Portrait of Mme Salle, a sculpture rendered in clay. Look at how Degas captures the profile of Madame Salle. The profile, a motif echoing through the corridors of art history, harkens back to ancient Roman portraiture, where leaders were immortalized in profile on coins, emblems of power and authority. Consider, too, the Renaissance cameos, and the way they were used to depict noble figures with a similar sense of classical dignity. But here, Degas presents us with something more intimate. The gaze is directed forward with a somewhat stern expression, yet her subtle smile conveys a quiet confidence. Degas delves into the psychological depths of his sitter. It's as if he captures not just a likeness, but a fleeting moment of introspection. This is more than a mere study; it is a silent dialogue across time, a convergence of historical echoes and personal revelations.