Portrait of Ellen Andrée c. 1876

Curator: Let's spend some time contemplating this compelling image, Edgar Degas's "Portrait of Ellen Andrée," created circa 1876. The artwork, housed here at The Art Institute of Chicago, showcases Degas’s skillful application of pencil, ink, and other printing techniques on paper. Editor: You know, right off the bat, I'm struck by the delicacy of it. There's this ghostly, almost ephemeral quality to the way he captures Ellen Andrée. It's like she's peering out from a half-remembered dream. Curator: Indeed, the softness you perceive directly engages with impressionistic techniques. Degas frequently depicted women from his time in scenes from everyday life; how might his specific portrayal of Ellen—an actress, incidentally—contribute to contemporary discourse surrounding gender roles in late nineteenth-century Paris? Editor: Ah, "gender roles," that old chestnut. I wonder if she chose to wear that fabulous, if slightly overwhelming, hat? Seriously though, it kind of anchors her, doesn’t it? Pulls focus away from the fluidity of the sketch and gives her a sense of...presence. Makes me wonder what SHE was thinking! Curator: Considering your reaction, it's relevant to note how Degas navigates realism alongside idealized representations. The dark, almost severe lines of her clothing contrast starkly with the diffused rendering of her face. I question, too, how this contrast represents the restrictive social environment shaping women of that period? Editor: I get what you're saying, but there’s something rebellious in her eyes, right? Like, "Yeah, I'm wearing this ridiculous hat, but I'm in on the joke." Degas captures that spark, that subtle defiance... and it's so refreshing! It's why the picture's so damn captivating, frankly. Curator: Your point introduces compelling questions. How did Degas portray female agency through a relatively unconventional composition that disrupted traditional art notions? I encourage audiences to reflect on Degas' work within evolving perceptions around labor, class, and performativity prevalent in the rapidly changing urban landscapes of his time. Editor: Well said. All that being considered, to me, it remains the feeling that lingers most—a whisper of untold stories hidden beneath that magnificent hat. Curator: Agreed, perhaps it is within those whispers where we discover a piece of ourselves reflected.