At the Milliner's

At the Milliner's by Edgar Degas, created in 1882, is a remarkable example of the artist's devotion to pastel drawing in the later stages of his career. This piece is distinguished by its unconventional support: pastel applied to pale gray wove paper, identified by conservators as industrial wrapping paper. Degas then laid the paper down on silk bolting to stabilize the fragile surface, a technique often required when manipulating and layering dry pigment. This approach allowed him to achieve a rich textural density and luminous quality, effectively pushing the boundaries between drawing and painting.

The subject matter is characteristic of Degas's preoccupation with modern Parisian life and the intimate, unposed activities of women. The composition focuses intently on two figures engrossed in the selection or creation of hats within a milliner's shop. Degas expertly captures the complex geometric forms and textured surfaces of the headwear, utilizing bold lines and broken color typical of Impressionist-era draftsmanship. Unlike the more theatrical scenes of the ballet or race track, this piece offers a quiet, bourgeois moment of commerce and fashion, reflecting the burgeoning consumer culture of 19th-century France.

This highly finished work is one of several studies Degas completed focusing specifically on the millinery trade. Degas frequently used such everyday scenes to explore challenges of light, perspective, and form. Classified technically as a drawing, the work highlights the artist's dedication to precise draftsmanship even when employing the intense color available through pastel. It is a major highlight of the European drawings collection at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Because of the enduring quality of works like At the Milliner's, and the widespread appreciation for late 19th-century French art, many high-quality prints of the piece are sought after by collectors, making it an essential reference for art historians exploring works potentially entering the public domain.