The Tub
Original title: The Tub
kurzbeschreibung
This bronze sculpture, The Tub, was modeled in wax by Edgar Degas in 1888–89 and cast in bronze in 1920. It features a nude figure lying on her back in a basin-shaped tub — an intimate slice of daily life typical of Degas's later work.
Description
A nude figure reclines in a boat-shaped tub, knees bent and arms resting calmly on her chest; one end of the tub is adorned with an animal head. The tub sits on a rocky base that further anchors the scene. The bronze shows a range of brown tones, from dark to light, due to different casting points. Side lighting sculpts the forms and textures of the sculpture.
Context
In his late career, Degas turned increasingly to sculpture and created the wax model of The Tub. The bronze cast was made posthumously in 1920, after his death in 1917. The work belongs to a series of small sculptures showing women grooming themselves. These study pieces were not intended for public exhibition.
Impact
The arrangement feels quiet and intimate, emphasizing the female body. The unusual combination of tub and animal head lends the work a surreal touch. Thanks to the shifting brown tones of the cast, the surface appears lively and reflects light in varied ways.
Technique
Degas originally shaped the figure in wax, which was later transferred to bronze. The posthumous 1920 cast received a patina in various shades of brown. Typical of Degas is the spontaneous modeling technique, in which traces of handwork remain visible.
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Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)