← Edgar Degas

After the Bath III (1891–92, Met-Objekt 531)

Original title: After the Bath III

Artist

Edgar Degas

Date

1891–92

Medium

Lithograph, transfer, and crayon; second state of two

Dimensions

image: 9 13/16 x 9 1/16 in. (25 x 23 cm) stone: 11 7/16 x 9 1/4 in. (29 x 23.5 cm) sheet: 14 3/4 x 10 5/8 in. (37.5 x 27 cm)

Credit line

The Elisha Whittelsey Collection. The Elisha Whittelsey Fund, 1987

kurzbeschreibung

Edgar Degas made 'Nach dem Bade III' in 1891–92 as a lithograph. It presents two women in an intimate scene after bathing. The print was created using lithography, transfer, and crayon.

Description

A woman kneels in the foreground, bending to dry herself with a cloth, her gaze lowered. Behind her, a second woman stands in a long dress, her hair pinned up, looking to the left. The background remains dark and plain, which makes the figures stand out. Light falls from the front, emphasizing contours and casting shadows on the floor. Varying line weights and textures produce a palette of greys.

Context

During the 1890s, Degas devoted himself intensively to the female nude after bathing. This print belongs to a series of lithographs made after his well-known pastels. The artist was exploring lithography as a medium and used transfer techniques to achieve drawn effects.

Impact

The arrangement feels calm and intimate. The woman in front displays a natural, unforced movement. Light and shadow, along with the graduated greys, give the scene a sketch-like quality without losing precision.

Technique

Executed as a lithograph with transfer and crayon, the print exists in the second of two states. The process allows for fine gradations of grey and a detailed rendering of the figures and their movements.

AI-generated description text

Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)