Leaving the Bath

Leaving the Bath is a significant print created by Edgar Degas French, 1834-1917, dating from 1879-1880. This piece exemplifies the French artist’s mastery of graphic techniques, utilizing drypoint and aquatint on white laid paper. Degas frequently experimented with the printmaking process during this period, finding that etching and engraving allowed him to capture intimate, fleeting moments with unique textural and tonal qualities unattainable in painting. The drypoint, which involves scratching directly into the plate, provides sharp, burred lines, while the aquatint adds broad, delicate tonal areas, mimicking the effects of wash drawings.

The subject matter aligns with a major theme in Degas’s oeuvre: the unidealized depiction of women performing private ablutions. Rather than presenting mythological or staged narratives, the artist observed modern women captured in unselfconscious poses, often emphasizing the momentary awkwardness or simple utility of domestic activity. This focus on contemporary, unvarnished life is characteristic of 19th-century art in France. Degas’s approach challenged academic conventions by elevating scenes of everyday personal grooming to fine art.

The composition of Leaving the Bath showcases the artist’s skill in using negative space and stark contrasts inherent in the medium of prints. This influential work is classified as a print and belongs to the permanent collection of the Art Institute of Chicago. Due to its age and historical importance, this key 1879 piece is a widely studied example of Degas’s graphic output, and high-resolution images are often available through public domain initiatives for educational use.