After the Bath (Woman Drying Her Feet)

After the Bath (Woman Drying Her Feet) is an evocative drawing created by Edgar Degas French, 1834-1917, around 1900. This late work demonstrates the artist’s characteristic mastery of mixed media and his commitment to depicting intimate scenes of the female form.

The piece utilizes a complex array of materials, primarily charcoal and charcoal wash, which provides deep shadows and definition. Degas selectively introduced subtle touches of red, yellow, and pale blue pastel, adding warmth and dimensionality to the figure. The texture of the work is further enhanced by sophisticated techniques such as stumping, blending the media, and careful erasing, all applied to buff wove tracing paper that was meticulously pieced and laid down on sulphite board.

The subject, a woman concentrating intensely on drying her feet, continues Degas’s fascination with capturing unposed, private moments of the toilette. Unlike the crisp contours of his earlier works, this drawing emphasizes the raw energy and mass of the figure, reflecting the evolving visual language of turn-of-the-century modernism in France. The dynamic composition and palpable immediacy of this sketch provide deep insight into the late career of the famed master. Classified as a drawing, this seminal work is preserved within the distinguished collection of the Art Institute of Chicago, offering researchers a vital view into the artist's process. Due to its historical significance, high-quality images and specialized prints often circulate in the public domain, ensuring global access to Degas’s profound contribution to drawing.