This artwork, titled "At the Café Châteaudun," presents an intriguing scene of two men seated at a corner table engrossed in examining a newspaper. The central figure, facing us, is depicted pointing to an article in the newspaper, which he reads through a small magnifying glass. His older companion, wearing a monocle and seen in profile, holds onto the younger man's right wrist.

While the exact nature of their interaction remains somewhat ambiguous, Degas focuses on capturing their poses and gestures, suggesting an intimate moment. Several preparatory sketches from Degas's notebooks between 1867 and 1874 reveal his exploration of various poses for similar figures, both from the front and in profile, although none corresponds exactly to this painting.

The artwork is essentially a drawing executed on cream-colored wove paper, mounted on canvas, and colored with essence. Essence is a technique that involves using oil paint from which most of the oil has been removed with blotting paper. This mixture is then diluted with turpentine to achieve a watercolor-like effect. Pencil marks are visible, indicating that Degas initially drew the scene and made changes to the poses during the creative process.

Degas pays particular attention to the hands in the artwork, emphasizing them more than the faces, which remain sketchy. The hands evoke the caricatures of Honoré Daumier, an artist whom Degas admired and collected. The color palette is limited, primarily consisting of pale greys, yellows, browns, and blacks, with small touches of pure white highlighting specific details such as shirt collars, cuffs, the magnifying glass, the newspaper, and the table's edge.

Dating from around 1869–71, this artwork is one of Degas's early cafe or cafe-concert scenes, a theme that became central to his exploration of modern life subjects. Degas spent much of his life in Montmartre, a Parisian neighborhood frequented by artists, writers, actors, and musicians. Cafes were integral to Parisian social life and provided artists like Degas with a rich source of visual inspiration, from cabaret performances to intriguing characters.

Although not as famous as some other cafes, the Café de Châteaudun, depicted in this artwork, was a popular gathering place for artists of the time.

Details:
Artist: Edgar Degas (After)
Title: "At the Café Châteaudun"
Date: 1874
Medium: Offset Lithograph on Japan Paper
Edition: 70 from the rare limited edition of 250
Publisher: Demotte Editeur
Dimensions: 16i x 20 in
Condition Report: Overall good condition

About the artist:
Edgar Degas, born Hilaire-Germain-Edgar De Gas (later spelled Degas), was a renowned French painter, sculptor, and printmaker. He played a prominent role in the Impressionist movement and gained recognition for his depictions of Parisian life. Degas's primary focus was the human figure, particularly women, from somber portraits to studies of various characters. He explored subjects such as ballet dancers and women at their toilette throughout his career.

Degas was a versatile artist who experimented with various media, including oil, pastel, gouache, etching, lithography, monotype, wax modeling, and photography. He bridged the gap between traditional academic art and the innovative movements of the early 20th century. Degas was celebrated for his draftsmanship and influenced artists like Pablo Picasso and Henri Matisse. His later works featured vivid color and expressive forms, making him a complex and influential figure in the art world.