Woman on a Sofa

"Woman on a Sofa," created by Edgar Degas in 1875, showcases the artist’s inventive and experimental approach to materials, blurring the traditional lines between drawing and painting. Despite its museum classification as a drawing, this piece demonstrates a complex fusion of mediums. Degas began the composition with a graphite underdrawing on pink paper, then layered the surface with oil colors freely mixed with turpentine, finishing the form with atmospheric touches of pastel. This sophisticated blend of media allows the artist to achieve both the spontaneity of a sketch and the subtle depth of color associated with full canvas works.

The work captures a woman in a moment of unidealized, private repose, a common theme in Degas’s observation of contemporary women during the mid-1870s. Unlike formal portraiture, the subject here appears relaxed and intimate, reflecting the artist's focus on domestic and backstage life. Degas frequently explored the activities of women, challenging idealized academic traditions by focusing on figures caught unaware in the privacy of their homes.

This delicate work represents a significant example of Degas’s mastery of line and color combined within the constraints of works on paper. The Metropolitan Museum of Art proudly holds this drawing in its collection, where it offers critical insight into the master’s process. Because of its age and cultural significance, the piece is often reproduced as high-quality fine art prints. The original photographic material for the work is frequently found in the public domain in many jurisdictions, ensuring broad scholarly and public access to detailed reproductions of Woman on a Sofa.