EDGAR DEGAS (1834-1917)

The Earring (La Boucle d'oreille) (A. and C. 127; J. 99)

Details

EDGAR DEGAS (1834-1917)
The Earring (La Boucle d'oreille) (A. and C. 127; J. 99)
monotype in black ink, circa 1879, on Chine laid down on wove paper, with wide margins, pale time staining, otherwise in good condition, framed
P. 6 3/8 x 4 11/16 in. (161 x 118 mm.)
S. 8 1/8 x 5 9/16 in. (206 x 140 mm.)

Provenance

The Estate of the artist 'Vente d'estampes' no. 259.
Ambroise Vollard, Paris.
Maurice Exteens.
Paul Brame and C.M. de Hauke.
Lefevre Gallery, London (by 1958).
David Tunick Inc., New York.
Mrs. Louis Lowenfels.

Exhibited

Lefevre Gallery, London, Edgar Degas, 1958, no. 43.
Fogg Art Museum, Harvard University, Degas Monotypes, April-June 1968, no. 25.
Ordrupgaardsamlingen Collection, Copenhagen, Denmark, Degas Intime, October 1991-December 1994, no. 50.

Lot Essay

Degas only depicted prostitutes in brothel settings using the medium of monotype. Over 50 are known to exist but there may have been more which were later destroyed. All of the women depicted in the series are middle-aged and go about their business in a matter-of-fact way. Degas draws them with humor and some sympathy. In this monotype the prostitute, in a quiet moment, is putting on an earring.

The greatest collector of the brothel subjects was Pablo Picasso and they clearly inform his later drawings, paintings and prints.

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