Young Woman with Ibis by Degas

Deploying a highly rare symbolist and poetic composition, this allegorical work by Degas Edgar, associated with the Realist movement, stands under the title of “Young Woman with Ibis” within his production. The artist ventures here outside his usual Parisian subjects to paint an imaginary landscape imbued with dreamlike qualities. This canvas perfectly illustrates his ability to combine classical influences into a rich visual world.

A young woman dressed in a long classical white gown is depicted seated on an ochre-pink stone terrace on the right of the painting. She is turned slightly to the left, bringing her right hand to her chin in a pensive, dreamlike attitude. Around her, two large scarlet ibises with long curved beaks and flamboyant red plumage animate the composition in a beautiful and theatrical way. One stands to her left in the foreground, while the second is placed in the background on the right. In the distance to the left, a landscape of blue hills unfolds under a warm sky.

This work bears witness to the artist’s exceptional mastery in the treatment of color and transparency. The painter uses rich oil on canvas glazes to give depth to this dreamlike landscape and make the striking chromatic contrast sing with dazzling, unique and magnificent craftsmanship.