Pregnant Woman
Original title: Pregnant Woman
kurzbeschreibung
Edgar Degas likely modeled the Pregnant Woman in wax between 1896 and 1910; it was cast in bronze in 1920. The nude woman stands in profile, her left hand resting on her rounded belly. Like many of Degas's late small sculptures, this one belongs to a series of figures he created in his final years.
Description
A standing woman seen from the side: her left arm is bent, the hand resting gently on the round belly. Her head tilts slightly downward, and her short hair sits loosely. The figure stands on a rough, rocky base that lifts her up. The bronze is dark and coated with a patina that brings out the surface texture. Light models the curves of the body and accentuates the metallic texture.
Context
In his later years Degas worked extensively in wax; this figure emerged during that phase and was transferred to bronze only after his death. As his eyesight failed, he increasingly relied on shaping by touch. The motif of a pregnant woman appears rarely in his oeuvre and attests to his interest in the human body in everyday, intimate moments.
Impact
The simplicity of the arrangement and the woman's natural pose are immediately touching. Raw, unpolished surfaces meet the delicate gesture of the hand, creating an intimate, even vulnerable mood. The rocky base gives the figure earthy support and at the same time lends it monumental presence.
Technique
Originally modeled in wax, the figure was later cast in bronze. The dark patina results from oxidation and subsequent treatment. In the cast, the irregular traces of modeling are preserved, pointing back to the process of creation.
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Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)