Leaving the Bath (La sortie du bain)

Leaving the Bath (La sortie du bain) is a significant print created by Edgar Degas between 1879 and 1880. This remarkable work is characterized by its exceptionally complex and experimental technique, combining electric crayon with multiple intaglio processes, including etching, drypoint, and aquatint. This sophisticated layering of methods allowed Degas to achieve a depth of tone and texture often reserved for preparatory drawings, emphasizing the immediacy of the captured moment.

Produced during the active period of French graphic arts spanning 1876 to 1900, the piece reflects Degas's intense preoccupation with capturing the intimate, unposed aspects of modern female life. Unlike his contemporaries who sought to idealize the nude, Degas often focused on women candidly engaged in private domestic rituals, generally referred to as la toilette. The subject of Leaving the Bath captures a figure in a transitional state, likely stepping out of the tub or drying herself, foregrounding movement and the spontaneous nature of the scene rather than formal structure.

The inclusion of the electric crayon provides a soft, velvety quality to the lines, which contrasts sharply with the sharp, precise marks generated by the drypoint needle. Degas skillfully utilized aquatint to build shadow and atmosphere, lending the piece a luminous, almost photographic quality that underscores the fleeting nature of the moment. This pioneering approach solidified Degas’s reputation as a master draftsman and innovative printmaker. This exemplary French print, representing a pivotal moment in late 19th-century graphic experimentation, is held in the permanent collection of the National Gallery of Art, Washington D.C., and is frequently made available through public domain initiatives due to its age and historical importance.