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Conversation: Ludovic Halévy and Madame Cardinal (The Conversation) for “La Famille Cardinal” by Ludovic Halévy
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This print comes from a series of more than 30 monotypes that Degas planned as illustrations for La Famille Cardinal by the artist’s friend Ludovic Halévy. The satirical stories revolve around two young dancers at the Opéra, Pauline and Virginie Cardinal, and their procuress mother. In late 19th-century Paris, the ballet was the profession of lower-class girls and young women who were available for sexual hire. Here, in the opening scene, Halévy, the first-person narrator, meets with Madame Cardinal in the coulisses (wings) of the Opéra to arrange for a private rendezvous with one of her daughters. The dancers, whose sexual availability is the subtext of the composition, are conspicuously absent.
| Artist / Maker | Edgar Degas |
|---|---|
| Date | c. 1880–83 |
| Culture / Origin | France, 19th century |
| Medium | monotype |
| Dimensions | Platemark: 21.3 x 16 cm (8 3/8 x 6 5/16 in.); Sheet: 25.5 x 17.8 cm (10 1/16 x 7 in.) |
| Department | Prints |
| Type |
About the Artist
Son of a Parisian banker, Edgar Degas enrolled in law school in 1853 following his father's wishes. But he had already shown an interest in art and had also registered to copy at the Louvre. In 1855 he entered the École des Beaux-Arts and became a student of Louis Lamothe (1822-1869), a former pupil of Ingres (q.v.). One year later Degas made the traditional journey to Italy, remaining there for three years. He visited family members in Naples and Florence… Full biography →
Provenance & Source
Image & data: Cleveland Museum of Art, CC0 / Public Domain.
Condition
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