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Source Description
In the 1850s Degas frequently used himself as a model, but he made only one printed self-portrait. Through successive stages of biting the plate and layers of crosshatching, Degas gradually built areas of dark tone. In this impression, Degas added etched lines on the face, hat, and coat and carefully wiped his copper plate to create atmospheric effects. His clearly drawn eyes directly engage the viewer, resulting in a psychologically powerful and intense portrait of the young artist at age 23. This impression was dedicated to his friend, the painter and sculptor Paul Albert Bartholomé.
Scholar Source Context
Document identity
localId
163547
label
Self-Portrait
core
obj
dtoType
print
pageCount
1
Source metadata
id
163547
contentType
print
title
Self-Portrait
description
In the 1850s Degas frequently used himself as a model, but he made only one printed self-portrait. Through successive stages of biting the plate and layers of crosshatching, Degas gradually built areas of dark tone. In this impression, Degas added etched lines on the face, hat, and coat and carefully wiped his copper plate to create atmospheric effects. His clearly drawn eyes directly engage the viewer, resulting in a psychologically powerful and intense portrait of the young artist at age 23. This impression was dedicated to his friend, the painter and sculptor Paul Albert Bartholomé.
date
1857
citation
rights
CC0
rightsUri
CC0
language
en
wikidata
Q60781142
creators
1759
genreSpecific
Print
imageCount
1
source
import
dimensionsRaw
Platemark: 23 x 14.5 cm (9 1/16 x 5 11/16 in.); Sheet: 31.5 x 22.6 cm (12 3/8 x 8 7/8 in.)
cul
France, 19th century
accession
2004.87
Source extras
tec
etching and drypoint
tombstone
Self-Portrait, 1857. Edgar Degas (French, 1834–1917). Etching and drypoint; platemark: 23 x 14.5 cm (9 1/16 x 5 11/16 in.); sheet: 31.5 x 22.6 cm (12 3/8 x 8 7/8 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, John L. Severance Fund, 2004.87
supportMaterials
description
laid paper
collection
PR - Etching
stateOfTheWork
III/IV
inscriptions
inscription
inscribed at lower left, in lithographic crayon: á Bartholomé / Degas
didYouKnow
This early self-portrait is especially rare among Edgar Degas's prints, and few impressions are known to exist.
citations
citation
"Major Acquisitions 2000-2005." <em>Cleveland Art: Cleveland Museum of Art Members Magazine</em> 45, no. 6 (July/August 2005): 6-19.
page_number
Mentioned and reproduced: p. 15
citation
Cleveland Museum of Art. <em>The CMA Companion: A Guide to the Cleveland Museum of Art</em>. Cleveland: Cleveland Museum of Art, 2014.
page_number
Mentioned and reproduced: P. 354
citation
Lees, Sarah, and Richard R. Brettell. <em>Innovative Impressions: Prints by Cassatt, Degas, and Pissarro</em>. Tulsa, Oklahoma : Philbrook Museum of Art, 2018
page_number
Reproduced and mentioned: p. 23, fig. 18
catalogueRaisonne
Reed and Shapiro 8
creditline
John L. Severance Fund
updatedAt
2026-05-29 08:29:43.180000
sourceId
163547
dept
Prints
coll
PR - Etching
med
etching and drypoint
creatorTags
male
thumbnail_url
image_url
Single page context
seq
1
pageIndex
0
type
photo
mediaId
7a68eed44751afba