Place de la Concorde
- Original dimensions
- 46.25 x 30.875 cm
- Museum
- Hermitage Museum
- Year
- 1875
Scene depicted
The painting "Place de la Concorde" depicts a lively scene of Parisian life, where elegant silhouettes mingle with the shadows of shaded trees. Among the imposing fountains and majestic architecture, Degas vibrates the atmosphere, revealing the very breath of the city, between melancholy and modernity, capturing every nuance of a fascinating era.
Historical context
Created in 1875, the painting "Place de la Concorde" embodies the very essence of Paris at the end of the 19th century, a period marked by artistic and cultural evolutions. Edgar Degas , a prominent figure of the Impressionist movement, flourished in a France on the verge of rediscovering its heritage and modernity. Today, this pictorial work is carefully preserved at the Hermitage Museum , folded between history and aesthetics, in a frame measuring 46.25 x 30.875 cm.
Place in the artist's career
With "Place de la Concorde," Degas positions himself at a turning point in his career, illustrating his transition from a precise realism to a freer and more Impressionist approach. Alongside his iconic works such as "The Dance Class" and "An Evening at the Theatre," this painting testifies to an evolution, not only pictorial but also emotional, coupled with a concern to capture the elusive instant.
Anecdote
“I wanted to capture a moment, a fragment of life. In each brushstroke, I aspire to represent the movement of the instant.” This quote resonates like a sweet melody, evoking the moment when Degas, a wanderer of the Parisian pavements, composed this painting . Imagine him, one spring morning, captivated by the ballet of passersby on the Place de la Concorde, where the fresh air and floral scents dance before his eyes.