After the Bath: Woman Drying Herself

After the Bath: Woman Drying Herself by Edgar Degas captures an intimate moment of a nude figure engaged in the routine activity of post-bathing hygiene. Created in the artist’s late period, approximately 1895-1905, this piece belongs to Degas’s extensive and famous series exploring women at their toilette. The subject is presented without idealization, often viewed from an unusual or raised perspective, emphasizing the physical volume of the body as it contorts during the action of drying.

This powerful drawing is executed using charcoal and pastel on tracing paper, a complex combination that highlights Degas’s mastery of both line and color. The charcoal provides the necessary structural foundation and definition, while the rich layering of pastel adds vibrant texture and light, blurring the traditional distinction between drawing and painting. Degas frequently used tracing paper in his later years, employing its translucency to refine and iterate on poses, resulting in figures that possess both spontaneity and careful composition. The intense colors used in the later works emphasize the heat and seclusion of the moment, focusing solely on the figure rather than the surrounding environment.

This work exemplifies the artistic shifts occurring within French culture during the crucial years spanning 1876 to 1900. While stylistically affiliated with Impressionism through its focus on modern, unposed life, Degas maintained a rigorous commitment to drawing that separated him from his contemporaries. His relentless exploration of movement and form made him a seminal figure in late 19th-century art. This significant piece resides in the collection of the National Gallery of Art, Washington D.C., representing a crucial aspect of Degas’s late output. High-quality art prints of this important drawing allow modern audiences to study the artist’s unique approach to the figure in motion.