Woman Having Her Hair Combed 1895

Edgar Degas made this pastel drawing called "Woman Having Her Hair Combed". The picture divides into warm and cool zones. The fiery red hair against the amber wallpaper creates a strong horizontal band. This warmth is cooled by the blues in the foreground and the pastel shades of the women's clothing. Degas balances the composition by placing a table laden with combs and vials in the bottom right corner, which mirrors the visual weight of the reclining figure. The spatial arrangement is intriguing, with the scene flattened and pushed to the picture plane. The women seem compressed into a shallow space, challenging traditional notions of depth. Degas used color and composition to explore themes of intimacy, domesticity, and the female form. The drawing offers a glimpse into a private moment, yet it also encourages us to consider how form and color come together to create meaning. As you continue through the gallery, reflect on how Degas's work continues to influence our understanding of modern art.