Sulking (ca. 1870)
Technique: Giclée quality print
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More about this artwork
"Sulking," painted by Edgar Degas around 1870, captures a poignant domestic scene steeped in emotional tension. The painting features two figures, a young woman and an older man, situated in a richly detailed interior that suggests a comfortable, middle-class home. The young woman, leaning on a table, gazes out with an expression of dissatisfaction or contemplation. Her posture and downturned eyes evoke a sense of weariness or perhaps disagreement. Meanwhile, the man, seated at the same table, appears deeply engrossed in or perhaps overwhelmed by the documents before him, his head resting wearily on one hand.The background of the scene is equally expressive, decorated with dark wood paneling and a bookshelf filled with volumes, hinting at a scholarly or intellectual environment. A landscape painting within the painting adds a layer of depth and contrast, juxtaposing the indoor tension with an outdoor scene of freedom and movement.Degas masterfully employs subtle yet powerful facial expressions and body language to convey the internal worlds of his characters, inviting viewers to ponder the story behind their apparent estrangement or conflict.