The artwork “Portrait of Princess Pauline de Metternich” was created by the artist Edgar Degas around 1860. This oil on canvas painting is a part of the Impressionism art movement and measures 40 x 28.8 cm. As implied by its title, the genre of this piece is a portrait. It is currently housed in the National Gallery in London, United Kingdom.
In the painting, Princess Pauline de Metternich is depicted with a frontal, off-center pose against a warm, patterned background that suggests foliage or decorative elements. Her attire includes a striking yellow jacket with black details and a high-collared white shirt adorned with a black bow tie. The princess has dark hair, styled in a manner typical of the period, and her expression is serene, with her gaze not directly engaging the viewer. Degas’s brushwork varies across the painting, with looser strokes in the background and more defined detailing in the facial features and clothing, which is a characteristic of Impressionist painting that seeks to capture the essence and atmosphere rather than providing a highly detailed photorealistic representation.
