Pagans and Degas's Father

"Pagans and Degas's Father" is an oil on canvas double portrait by Edgar Degas, created around 1871–1872. Measuring 54.5 cm by 39.5 cm, it depicts the Catalan tenor Lorenzo Pagans performing a song and guitar recital, capturing the warmth and immediacy typical of Impressionism. Behind him, Degas’s father, Auguste de Gas, sits in the audience, illustrating the artist’s interest in intimate sketch and study techniques. The artist, known for his innovative use of pastel and focus on musicians, began exploring similar portraits in this series at the time. Today, the painting is housed in the Musée d'Orsay in Paris, exemplifying Degas’s mastery of capturing fleeting moments.