Actresses in Their Dressing Rooms

"Actresses in Their Dressing Rooms" by Edgar Degas, created between 1879 and 1880, offers an intimate glimpse behind the scenes of the Parisian theatrical world. This highly refined composition is classified as a print, utilizing the complex techniques of etching and aquatint on wove paper. Degas, a key figure in the French artistic scene of the period 1876 to 1900, was known for his innovative approach to graphic arts, often combining multiple processes to achieve subtle tonal variations and textural effects beyond standard drawing.

Unlike his well-known compositions depicting the energy of the stage or the rigorous training of ballet dancers, this piece focuses on a private, transitional moment. The composition captures the actresses in their dressing rooms, likely adjusting costumes, attending to their hair, or resting before or after a performance. Degas’s consistent artistic preoccupation lay in capturing the unposed reality of modern life, shifting the viewer’s attention from the public spectacle itself to the quieter, more candid moments of the performers’ working lives. The skillful combination of etching for fine line work and aquatint for broad areas of shade creates a strong sense of mood and interior light, emphasizing the enclosure of the private space.

This work demonstrates the technical mastery Degas applied across all his media, reflecting the visual curiosity characteristic of French art during the late 19th century. The piece is an essential example within the artist’s portfolio of prints and studies of contemporary women. Today, the work is held in the permanent collection of the National Gallery of Art, Washington D.C. As an important composition dating from the period 1876 to 1900, high-resolution images of this print are frequently accessible to researchers and students through the public domain.