Singer in a Paris Garden

From 1878 to 1880 Degas created nearly twenty fans, which were largely influenced by style elements found in Japanese art. These shimmering silk fans were not intended for actual use, but rather were hung on walls together with paintings or drawings. This watercolour depicts an evening show by Émilie Bécat in the garden of the Café des Ambassadeurs on the Champs-Élysées, where the singer and dancer was celebrated for her "epileptic" style.