Woman Combing Her Hair 1885

Edgar Degas created “Woman Combing Her Hair” using pastel on paper. The composition, dominated by soft, muted tones and tactile textures, draws us into a private moment. Degas’ use of line and form is particularly striking. The woman’s body is rendered with fluid strokes that emphasize its contours. Notice how the soft, almost hazy quality of the pastels blurs the distinction between figure and ground. This creates a flattening effect, challenging traditional notions of depth and perspective. The asymmetry of the composition, with the figure off-center, adds to the sense of immediacy and realism. The pastel medium enhances the work's intimate and informal atmosphere. The marks left by the pastel sticks emphasize the material presence of the artwork itself, reminding us of its constructed nature. Degas invites us to reconsider the relationship between the body, representation, and the act of seeing.