Mlle. N. Wolkonska, second plate 1860 - 1861

Edgar Degas made this print, Mlle. N. Wolkonska, second plate, using etching. The delicate lines create a sense of depth and texture, especially in the floral background, contrasting with the subject’s solid form. Degas uses hatching and cross-hatching to construct the figure of the young girl, giving her dress a tangible presence, while the softness in her face is achieved through subtler tonal gradations. The use of light and shadow across her features adds depth and expression. This can be viewed through the lens of structuralism, where the subject, an upper-class young girl, is presented within a highly structured social context. This structured composition reflects broader artistic and philosophical concerns, challenging fixed meanings and engaging with new ways of thinking about representation.