At the Milliner's (1881)
Original title: At the Milliner's
kurzbeschreibung
Edgar Degas used pastel in 1881 to capture a seated woman holding a large hat with a blue ribbon in his work 'At the Milliner's'. He drew on five pieces of wove paper, which were later backed with paper and mounted on canvas.
Description
A woman sits on a sofa, presenting a wide-brimmed hat with a striking blue ribbon. She wears a light blue top with white lace at the collar and a brown jacket; her hair is tied in a knot. Hints of curtains, a window, and a piece of furniture fill the background. Light entering from the left highlights the woman and the hat. The colors remain pastel and soft, dominated by blues and beiges.
Context
Created in 1881, the work belongs to a period when Degas was deeply engaged with Parisian everyday life, especially working women such as milliners. The motif of the hatmaker appears several times in his oeuvre during the 1880s. Although part of the Impressionist group, Degas deliberately avoided their open-air painting and preferred interior scenes with artificial light.
Impact
The gentle, pastel colors and the central arrangement give the sheet a calm, intimate mood. The woman's appraising gaze at the hat creates a quiet concentration that draws the viewer directly into the scene.
Technique
Pastel was applied here on five pieces of wove paper, which were backed with paper and mounted on canvas. This approach allowed Degas to use color directly, without a brush, favoring soft textures and delicate transitions. The use of multiple paper pieces suggests a revised arrangement that was later transferred to a solid support.
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Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)