Study for a Portrait of Mathilde Salle 1887 - 1920

This is Edgar Degas's bronze study of Mathilde Salle at the Met. Look at the way he’s built up the form, almost like he’s sketching in three dimensions. You can really see the artist's hand in the rough texture. It’s funny because Degas is so well known for his paintings of ballerinas, but this sculpture, it’s like he’s trying to capture something more raw, more real. The surface is uneven, full of little lumps and bumps. Around the eyes, it's almost like he’s worried away at the material, trying to find the essence of the face. The way the light catches those little details, it’s what gives the sculpture its depth and character, it feels so incredibly physical. It reminds me a bit of Rodin, the way he’s playing with light and shadow. But where Rodin is all about drama, Degas feels more intimate, more like a quiet conversation. It's a study, so it's not finished, it's like a moment in time.