Edgar Degas L’Attente de la Chanteuse (Waiting for the Singer) c. 1888; Drawn in profile, a couple casts their gaze directed off to the left, their view beyond the borders of the image as if eagerly anticipating something before them. The woman on the left is gingerly holding what appears to be a newspaper or performance schedule between her fingers, the tops of her hands and fingers catching the reflected light. Although there is limited negative space in the image, the delicate line work Degas has achieved despite the initial roughness of the way he rendered his lines helps outline the areas where light meets the couple, bouncing between them and the area around them, leading us to believe they are somewhere indoors. The tonal contrasts between the line pressure helps assert that they are in a dimly lit room, where the shadows would fall leaving only enough light to see their faces, and perhaps the delicate bracelet that adorns her wrist. The intention of only letting the viewer see the important points of the image is intentional, and by covering the remainder of the space with contrasting lines we are drawn to the intimate nature this image portrays. There is a magnificent quality Degas had in portraying the human form in intimate settings, his progression of artistic aspiration to reveal what was simultaneously common and beautiful.

Created in 1888, this Degas and Thornley collaboration is a color lithograph printed on dark mauve on rose-toned Chine appliqué on greenish gray wove paper. This work is hand-signed by Edgar Degas (Paris, 1834- Paris, 1917) in the lower left margin, and also hand signed by G.W. Thornley in pencil in the lower right margin. Annotated "l'epreuve" (artist's proof) in the lower margin. Aside from the numbered edition of 100.

Catalogue Raisonné & COA:

Edgar Degas L’Attente de la Chanteuse (Waiting for the Singer) c. 1888 is fully documented and referenced in the below catalogue raisonnés and texts (copies will be enclosed as added documentation with the invoices that will accompany the sale of the work).

1. A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany this artwork.

About the Framing:
Framed to museum-grade, conservation standards, Edgar Degas L’Attente de la Chanteuse (Waiting for the Singer) c. 1888 is presented in a complementary moulding and finished with silk-wrapped mats and optical grade Plexiglas.