After the Bath (La sortie du bain (Grand planche)), created by Edgar Degas in 1891, stands as a seminal example of the artist’s late-career explorations into printmaking. This specific work is a lithograph executed on laid paper. During the late 1880s and 1890s, Degas became deeply engaged with the technical possibilities of the printing press, seeking to translate the soft, suggestive qualities of pastel and charcoal into reproducible media. His deliberate shift to graphic arts allowed him greater creative control over texture and form, a departure from the quick, observational style often associated with his earlier Impressionist peers.
This piece belongs to a significant series created by Degas focusing on women performing their toilette. Unlike earlier academic nudes, Degas presented these figures without idealization, often depicting them from unusual or oblique angles, giving the viewer the feeling of witnessing a private, unguarded moment. This characteristic focus exemplifies the innovative spirit of French art during the period spanning 1876 to 1900. Degas treated his subjects with a nuanced blend of detachment and empathy, utilizing the lithographic process to achieve velvety blacks and subtle tonal variations that underscore the intimate interior setting.
The complex process involved in creating these prints allowed Degas to manipulate texture and light, pushing the boundaries of traditional printmaking techniques. Although known primarily for his paintings and pastels, the artist considered his graphic works, such as After the Bath (La sortie du bain (Grand planche)), crucial to his artistic output. Today, these seminal prints are studied for their technical sophistication and historical importance, offering insight into the development of modern illustration. This celebrated work is part of the permanent collection of the National Gallery of Art, offering scholars and the public access to a masterwork from one of the most celebrated figures in the transition to modern art. Some high-resolution images of the piece are available through public domain initiatives.
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