Bather Drying Herself (ca. 1892)
Original title: Bather Drying Herself
kurzbeschreibung
Edgar Degas portrays a nude woman in profile, drying herself with a towel after bathing, in this work made around 1892. The sheet is executed in charcoal and pastel, heightened with white chalk, on tracing paper mounted on cardboard.
Description
The woman stands sideways to the viewer, her head slightly bowed; a long, dark strand of hair falls over her shoulder. Her arms are crossed, holding a towel. Light enters from the left, bringing out shadows and contours. A plain, neutral background frames the figure and draws the eye to her. Brown tones dominate the palette, while white accents suggest skin texture and moisture.
Context
In his later years, Degas devoted himself increasingly to the motif of bathers. He observed women in their private surroundings, often in unguarded moments, which was unusual at the time. This sheet belongs to a series of pastel works from the 1890s, created when Degas's eyesight was failing and he turned more frequently to pastel.
Impact
The image conveys an intimate, unposed mood and pulls the viewer into the private scene. Soft pastel tones meet precise charcoal drawing; from this arises a quiet tension between fleetingness and permanence.
Technique
Charcoal and pastel, lightened with white chalk, on tracing paper mounted on cardboard—this mixed technique allowed Degas fine details and soft transitions. The charcoal sets the contours, while the pastel modulates the areas of color.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)