The “Portrait of Rene-Hillaire De Gas” is an artwork by Edgar Degas, painted in 1857. This oil on canvas piece is executed in the Realism art movement and falls into the portrait genre. It can be found in the Musée d’Orsay, located in Paris, France.
The artwork presents an elderly gentleman seated comfortably in what appears to be an upholstered armchair. His body is angled slightly to the right while he looks directly out of the canvas, engaging the viewer with a steady gaze. The sitter exhibits an air of quiet dignity and thoughtful repose. He is dressed in attire appropriate to the era, wearing a formal coat, waistcoat, and cravat, against a backdrop of restrained colors. The artist’s careful rendering of the textures of the man’s clothes and the soft furnishings of the chair provide a contrast to the sitter’s weathered and expressive face, suggesting a life of experience and contemplation. The painting captures effectively the realistic details and the personality of the subject, which is typical of portraits from the Realism movement.
