Young Woman with Her Hand over Her Mouth
Original title: Young Woman with Her Hand over Her Mouth
kurzbeschreibung
Edgar Degas painted this portrait of a young woman with her hand before her mouth around 1875. The close-up view is rendered in oil colors heavily thinned with turpentine on canvas, measuring 41.3 × 33.4 cm.
Description
Side light falls on the young woman's face, bringing her features forward. She occupies the middle of the picture, wearing a dark top with a light collar; her brown hair is loosely knotted. Her expression seems pensive or worried, while her hand rests before her mouth. The muted, soft colors and the side lighting emphasize the contours of her face and hair.
Context
During the 1870s Degas increasingly devoted himself to portraiture and the rendering of everyday gestures. This picture belongs to a group of works showing women in private, unposed moments—a subject central to the artist at this time. Degas regularly took part in the Impressionist exhibitions, yet rejected the label 'Impressionist' for himself.
Impact
The hand before the mouth evokes a quiet, thoughtful mood and prompts reflection on the woman's feelings. Soft color transitions and the light entering from the side create an intimate, almost private atmosphere.
Technique
Degas thinned his oil paints heavily with turpentine, producing soft, flowing transitions and a matte surface. The free mixing of colors directly on the canvas is characteristic of his working method in these years and heightens the impressionistic effect.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)