Young Woman With Hand Over Her Mouth, Edgar Degas, 1875

Edgar Degas' emotionally-charged portraits captivated audiences the world over, and it's no surprise that this painting is a perfect example of his genius. Using oil paints mixed with turpentine on canvas, he effortlessly captures an intimate moment - conveying sadness or illness in just brushstrokes. While widely known for his beautiful Impressionist works depicting dancers and bathing women, Degas also had a talent for portraiture which shines through here; capturing transient emotional states as if they were never meant to stay still anyway.