Lady Artist - Peggy Bacon

A 1925 drypoint print by Peggy Bacon, depicting the artist at work in a quiet, domestic setting with her cat.

Peggy Bacon, a figure known for her sharp wit and satirical eye, produced this drypoint in 1925. The work, titled Lady Artist, captures the creator in a moment of quiet focus. Bacon sits in a chair, hunched over a sketchbook, while a cat rests on the floor nearby. The composition relies on the characteristic scratchy, expressive lines of the drypoint technique, which allow for deep shadows and a sense of immediate, personal observation.

The scene is domestic yet professional. The artist is surrounded by the tools of her trade, including an easel and various papers. Through the window behind her, one observes a grid of other windows, suggesting an urban setting. This detail adds a layer of context to the life of an artist working in the city during the 1920s. Bacon avoids romanticising the act of creation, choosing instead to present a grounded, honest depiction of her own daily routine.

Bacon was a prolific printmaker and illustrator, often using her art to comment on the social dynamics of the New York art world. In this self-portrait, she adopts a modest, almost self-effacing posture. The contrast between the dark, heavy ink work of the interior and the lighter, more schematic rendering of the exterior view creates a sense of enclosure. This print demonstrates her technical skill with the needle, as she manages to convey texture, light, and mood through varying densities of line. It is a candid look at the life of a working artist, stripped of artifice and presented with the dry humour that defined much of her career.