The artwork titled “Self-portrait” was created by the artist Edgar Degas in the year 1854. As a piece hailing from the Impressionism movement, it captures the artist’s own visage in a self-portrait genre. Currently, the artwork is housed in the Louvre located in Paris, France, inviting viewers to explore the introspective glance of the artist as rendered through his own hand.
In the artwork, Edgar Degas presents a vision of himself dressed in somber attire, with a black coat and a crisp white shirt accentuated by a formal black cravat. The artist’s face is rendered with keen attention to detail, highlighting his focused gaze and the defining features of his visage with subtle yet definitive paint strokes. His dark hair is swept back, framing his contemplative expression as he appears to engage directly with the viewer.
Degas holds a slender paintbrush delicately between the fingers of his left hand—an inclusion that serves not only as an indicator of his artistic profession but also as a personal emblem of his dedication to the craft. The neutral, warm background against which he is positioned is devoid of intricate detail, which brings the viewer’s full attention to the self-reflective figure of Degas himself. This quiet yet powerful representation demonstrates the artist’s early exploration of self and his role within the broader spectrum of the Impressionist movement.
