Woman Seated in an Armchair Wiping Her Neck
Original title: Woman Seated in an Armchair Wiping Her Neck
kurzbeschreibung
Unlike many related nude studies, this bronze by Edgar Degas shows a naked woman leaning back in an armchair, one hand touching her neck. The model was probably made before 1902, and the cast dates to 1920. It belongs among the small sculptures from Degas's late years.
Description
She leans back with a swing, arms raised in a soft motion to grasp her neck. Textures and creases show on the bronze surface, hinting at skin and muscle. Barefoot and unclothed, she sits on a plain, flat base that draws attention to her pose. Even light brings out the metal's structure, which carries a uniform bronze tone.
Context
Degas probably shaped the model around 1902, but it was cast only after his death in 1920. It is part of a group of wax and clay works transferred posthumously into bronze. In this phase, Degas's eyesight was failing, and he shifted his focus to the tactile grasp of form. Such figures often served as preliminary studies for paintings, yet remained almost unknown during his lifetime.
Impact
The sculpture feels like an immediate, intimate moment of an everyday movement. The rough surface and dynamic pose give the bronze something alive, almost Impressionistic, that draws the viewer close to the figure.
Technique
Cast in bronze, the process allows a faithful translation of the original wax model. The visible textures and irregularities of the surface point to Degas's direct modeling method: he worked with his hands and deliberately left traces of his handling.
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Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)