Woman in a Ruffled Cap - Edgar Degas
Archival giclée
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Description
An intimate etching by Edgar Degas, featuring a woman in a ruffled cap rendered with precise, atmospheric cross-hatching.
This etching by Edgar Degas captures a quiet, introspective moment. The subject, a woman wearing a traditional ruffled cap, is rendered with precise, controlled lines that demonstrate the artist's early mastery of printmaking techniques. Degas, often associated with his later depictions of ballet dancers and racecourses, began his career with a rigorous study of the Old Masters. This work reflects that formative period, showing an interest in the psychological depth of the sitter rather than the fleeting effects of light that would define his later Impressionist output.
The composition is intimate, focusing on the sitter's head and shoulders. The background is filled with dense, cross-hatched lines, which create a dark, atmospheric contrast against the lighter tones of the woman's face and clothing. The ruffles of the cap are suggested through delicate, rhythmic strokes, showing the artist's ability to convey texture through minimal means. The sitter's gaze is directed away from the viewer, adding to the sense of private contemplation.
Degas produced this work during his time in Italy, where he spent years copying works by Renaissance artists. The influence of these studies is visible in the clarity of the form and the balanced composition. The etching process allowed Degas to experiment with tonal values, using the density of the lines to model the features of the face and the folds of the fabric. This print offers a glimpse into the technical discipline that underpinned the artist's entire career. It is a study in restraint, where the economy of the line serves to draw attention to the character of the subject. The work remains a fine example of nineteenth-century portraiture, stripped of unnecessary detail and focused on the essential qualities of the human form.
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Because every print is made to order, we don't offer change-of-mind returns, refunds or exchanges. If your order arrives faulty, damaged or incorrect, we'll replace it free of charge — just contact us within 48 hours of delivery. See our refunds page for full details.
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Each print is produced to order using 12-colour giclée printing on FSC-certified archival paper. Designed in Britain and printed at your nearest production hub to reduce waste and speed up delivery.
Care and materials
Specific Features
Every Solis piece is made to order with archival, gallery-quality materials built to last.
- Museum-grade giclée printing for rich, fade-resistant colour
- Archival matte fine-art paper, FSC-certified
- Multiple sizes and framing options available
- Frames in black, natural wood, dark wood or white
- Framed prints arrive ready to hang
Care & Cleaning
To keep your artwork looking its best:
- Dust gently with a soft, dry cloth
- Avoid prolonged direct sunlight
- Never use liquid cleaners on the print or canvas surface
- Keep in a dry, room-temperature space
- Handle prints with clean, dry hands
Materials & Sizing
Museum-grade giclée on FSC-certified archival matte paper, with framed and canvas options.
- Paper sizes: A4, A3, A2, A1, A0 and B2 (50×70 cm)
- Canvas: XS (20×30 cm) to Large (60×90 cm)
- Frames: black, natural wood, dark wood or white
Woman in a Ruffled Cap - Edgar Degas
Artist Biography
Edgar Degas
More than half of his entire output depicts dancers. He became a fixture at the Paris Opera, watching from the wings and from boxes above the stage, sketching not the performance but the work behind it: the stretching, the waiting, the adjusting of shoes, the corrections from the ballet master. The backstage fatigue interested him more than the applause.
In 1881, he exhibited Little Dancer Aged Fourteen, a two-thirds life-size wax figure of Marie van Goethem, a real student at the Opera ballet school. She wore a real tutu, real ballet slippers, and a wig of human hair, all coated in wax. Critics called it repulsive. One described the girl as having a face marked by the hateful promise of every vice. Wax was a material for anatomical specimens, not art. It was the only sculpture he exhibited in his lifetime. After his death, 150 more wax figures were found in his studio, many falling apart.
His eyesight began failing during the Franco-Prussian War. By his forties he had lost central vision. By fifty-seven he could not read. The deterioration drove him from fine brushwork to bolder strokes, then to pastels, then to sculpture he could work by touch. He avoided daylight and painted under controlled artificial light. Collectors joked they should chain their Degas paintings to the wall, because he would try to take them back to rework them. He compulsively revised everything.
He disliked being called an Impressionist. He preferred Realist or Independent. He never painted outdoors, which was supposedly the whole point of the movement. Despite this, he co-founded the group, organised their exhibitions, and showed in all eight. He said: there is love and there is art and we only have one heart. He never married.
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