Self-Portrait 1857

Edgar Degas made this Self-Portrait using etching, drypoint, and aquatint on paper. Look closely at the intricate network of lines and tonal gradations that define the artist's features and clothing. Degas masterfully uses hatching and cross-hatching to create depth and volume, especially visible in the rendering of his coat and the shadows around his face. The aquatint technique adds subtle washes of tone, enriching the overall texture of the print. This work challenges traditional portraiture conventions. Rather than presenting a polished, idealized image, Degas offers a more intimate and subjective view of himself. The unfinished quality and the emphasis on the materiality of the printmaking process reveal a preoccupation with the act of creation itself. This self-portrait acts as a study in form and technique, inviting viewers to consider the relationship between the artist, his medium, and his self-representation.