Seated Woman Wiping her Left Hip
Original title: Seated Woman Wiping her Left Hip
kurzbeschreibung
Unlike related nude studies by Degas, this bronze figure presents a naked woman seated, wiping her left hip with her left hand, while her right hand is raised and touches her face. Modeled possibly around 1896 and cast in bronze in 1920, it rests on an irregular, rocky base made of the same metal.
Description
On an uneven, rock-like bronze base sits a nude woman. Her left hand rests on her left hip, her right is lifted toward her face. The body is rendered with detailed, lively modeling. Side lighting accentuates the contours and surface textures. The bronze appears uniformly dark with a slight patina.
Context
During those years Degas increasingly devoted himself to the female nude, often in everyday, unposed positions. The likely creation around 1896 falls in a phase when the artist was already severely visually impaired and worked more with wax and clay. The cast was made posthumously in 1920, as Degas exhibited only a few sculptures during his lifetime. The irregular base corresponds to his later wax works, which often stood on improvised supports.
Impact
The realistic rendering and relaxed pose convey closeness and intimacy. The rough surface and patina give the figure a sensual presence that draws the viewer in. The high-contrast modeling of the musculature emphasizes the movement of the pose.
Technique
The bronze was cast from a wax model. The dark patina was produced by chemical treatment. The irregular texture and lively modeling point to the original wax version, which was transferred into bronze.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)