Portrait of Madame Edmondo Morbilli 1865

Edgar Degas painted this oil on canvas portrait of Madame Edmondo Morbilli in France, sometime in the late 19th century. It's a characteristically modern take on portraiture, one that challenges the conventions of academic painting. Degas was part of a generation that questioned the established art institutions and their emphasis on historical and mythological subjects. His turn to contemporary life, and in particular to the depiction of women in their everyday roles, was part of a broader shift in French society. This painting, like many of Degas's portraits, raises questions about the representation of women and the power dynamics inherent in the act of looking. The loose brushwork and the subdued palette create a sense of intimacy, but also a certain distance, inviting us to consider the sitter as an individual, but also as a member of a particular social class. To fully understand this painting, we might consult letters, diaries, and other documents from the period. These resources could provide insight into the social and cultural context in which it was made and help us interpret its meaning.