The artwork titled “Portrait of a Young Woman (after Bacchiacca)” is a creation attributed to the artist Edgar Degas and dates back to the period between 1858 and 1859. Executed in oil on canvas, it falls within the genre of portraiture and shows the early influence of Impressionism, although it precedes Degas’s full involvement in the movement. The artwork is currently housed in the National Gallery of Canada, located in Ottawa, Canada.
The artwork depicts a young woman positioned slightly to the side, exuding an air of reserved poise. The young woman’s garment is rendered with an earthy palette that invokes warmth, while the folds of her dress are illustrated with the soft, deft brushstrokes that hint at the textural contrasts of the materials. Her facial expression is composed and contemplative with her eyes looking off to the side, offering a sense of introspection. The background is undetailed, allowing the viewer to concentrate entirely on the subject. The likeness to the Italian painter Bacchiacca’s work suggests Degas’s study and reverence for Renaissance art during that phase of his career. The portrait, with its nuanced execution of light and shadow, provides a window into the development of Degas’s technique and his journey to the style that would later categorize his Impressionist works.
