At the Milliner's (1882)
Original title: At the Milliner's
kurzbeschreibung
Edgar Degas made a pastel in 1882 called At the Milliner's. Two women occupy an interior, busy with hats. The sheet is pastel on gray paper. It shows Degas's liking for everyday scenes and for portraying modern women.
Description
On the left a woman in a dark jacket with fur trim and a flower-trimmed hat puts her hand to her ear. On the right, a second woman in a plain dress stands before a large mirror in which a yellow hat appears. An orange wall stripe and a dark floor shape the background, while light comes from the left. The figures remain soft, without precise modeling, in keeping with the Impressionist style.
Context
In the 1880s Degas devoted himself closely to Parisian daily life, especially women in private or professional moments. Milliners were popular among the Impressionists because they offered views of fashion and city life. For this pastel Degas worked on industrial wrapping paper, a sign of his curiosity about unusual materials.
Impact
The loose, pasty technique and warm color choice give the image an immediate liveliness. The asymmetrical arrangement and the view into the mirror create spatial depth that invites the viewer to explore the scene. Soft contours and an emphasis on textures produce an intimate, almost fleeting mood.
Technique
For this work Degas used pastel on pale gray wove paper, laid down on silk bolting. This unusual support gave the sheet its own structure and durability. He applied the pastel in several layers, producing the bright yet soft colors.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)