Sketches of Café Singers

Focusing on the performer's expression and gestures from several angles, Edgar Degas quickly captured several café singers absorbed in their songs. At the left, one faces to the left, with just the triangular tip of her nose visible from behind. At the bottom, one stands with joined hands. Two black lines form her closed eyes, a curved line her nose, and another makes her mouth. Another singer behind opens her mouth in full song as she gestures with one extended hand. Two other lightly sketched figures on the right face right. At the upper left, a carefully shaded sketch of a woman's head with downcast eyes is probably by another hand. Degas often passed around his sketchbook to allow others to contribute to it.

In Degas's youth, his teacher Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres instructed him to "use lines, young man, many lines, both to remember as well as to copy nature." Quick sketches such as these two were vital tools for the artist to record a specific performance he attended or person he had observed as he prepared for a more elaborate painting or print.