Self Portrait in a Soft Hat 1858

Edgar Degas painted this small self-portrait on canvas at an unknown date. He was a man who inhabited the privileged spaces of 19th-century Parisian society. Degas presents himself with a certain nonchalance. The soft hat and loosely knotted scarf suggest a casualness, yet the intensity of his gaze hints at a more complex interiority. What does it mean for a man of his class to present himself in this way? Is it an attempt to democratize the self-portrait, or is it another way of performing a certain kind of masculinity? The portrait complicates the notion of the male gaze, as Degas turns his own gaze inward. The ambiguity of the image invites us to consider the artist’s own understanding of his identity, his place in society, and his role as an observer. The dark, muted tones evoke a sense of introspection. It is as if Degas is not just showing us his face, but inviting us to witness a moment of self-reflection.