Woman Washing Her Left Leg (First State)
Original title: Woman Washing Her Left Leg (First State)
kurzbeschreibung
Edgar Degas modeled this bronze figure around 1883, though the cast was made in 1920. It shows a woman engaged in an intimate washing ritual. The work belongs to the artist's late sculptures, in which he explored the everyday actions of personal hygiene.
Description
A woman lifts her left leg and washes it with one hand, while the other holds a stick. Her pose is dynamic, revealing concentration and physical effort. Modeled naturalistically, the figure displays clearly defined muscles and a lively surface. The bronze has a uniform patina, with no added color accents. A simple pedestal beneath her directs attention to the action itself.
Context
This sculpture emerged during a period when Degas was intensely focused on the female nude in everyday situations. The cast was made only after his death in 1917; the 1920 bronzes derive from his wax models. During his lifetime, Degas rarely exhibited his sculptures—they served as personal artistic experiments. The woman at her toilette recurs frequently in his late work and stands in opposition to classical idealization.
Impact
The unembellished, intimate portrayal feels immediate and believable. The animated pose gives the work a vivid presence that draws the viewer into a private moment. The rough surface and irregular modeling underscore the sketchy, process-oriented character of the figure.
Technique
The sculpture was cast in bronze using the lost-wax method; the surface retains traces of the original wax modeling. A dark patina accentuates the sculptural details. At approximately 14.6 × 14.6 × 10.5 cm, it is a small-scale work intended for close viewing.
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Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)