Girl in Red c. 1866

Edgar Degas created this oil on canvas painting titled "Girl in Red", but the exact date remains unknown. Degas was a product of the French Academy, and this is a traditional portrait. But it seems to be one that he never exhibited. The plain background and sombre colour scheme suggest that this wasn't a commissioned work. Perhaps he was painting someone from his family. So what does it tell us about the role of women in 19th-century France? The subject's dress is quite formal, which tells us that she is likely from a middle-class family. But does the lack of social context or obvious narrative suggest that women were often overlooked? As historians, we can use sources like letters, diaries and family trees to try to piece together the full story. Art is never made in a vacuum; it always reflects the social and institutional context of its time.