Women Combing Their Hair 1877

Edgar Degas created 'Women Combing Their Hair' using oil paint to bring an everyday scene to life. Rather than grand historical events, Degas chose a candid moment of women engaged in their personal grooming. The ochre and brown hues create a warm, intimate atmosphere, emphasizing the physicality and labor of the women's task. Look closely, and you’ll notice that the texture of the paint itself contributes to the sense of movement, especially in the flowing hair. Degas was interested in representing modern life, and what could be more mundane than combing your hair? Yet, by elevating this routine to the level of fine art, he blurs the lines between the ordinary and the extraordinary. The artist treats his subject with a directness that dispenses with idealization. Degas finds beauty in the everyday. The painting suggests that all kinds of labor, even the most personal, are worthy of attention.