Degas and Manzi's Vingt dessins: An Experimental Collaboration in Print

Conclusion

This marriage of art and industry in the chromogravures of Vingt dessins is a logical one for Degas, an artist who was so overtly engaged with experimentation with a variety media and throughout his career, and considered himself as a draftsman above all else. From the moment of Ingres’ encouragement for him to ‘draw lines,’ Degas positioned himself as an heir to Ingres, aligning himself with the intellectual qualities of line, something that is easily reproduced via Manzi’s chromogravures, without losing a sense of the artist’s hand in the process. Degas’ emphasis on line, combined with his interest in experimentation, made the moment ripe for a collaborative endeavor with Manzi in Vingt dessins.

Manzi’s perfection of the process of chromogravure enabled Degas, one who was classically wary of criticism and explication of his work, to join with Manzi within the experimental processes of the medium to accurately reproduce a fundamental part of his oeuvre. The result, Vingt dessins, is a collaborative endeavor by two individuals who respected each other’s’ talents, and who utilized them to create a curated compendium of Degas’ growth and legacy as a draftsman. 

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