Woman Seated on a Balcony 1872

Edgar Degas’ 'Woman Seated on a Balcony' is a work with soft, muted pastel tones that capture the eye. The composition divides our view between the woman’s figure and the architectural setting of the balcony. Degas was influenced by photography and Japanese prints. We see this here in his daring cropping of the scene and asymmetric composition. The woman is pushed to the left, and the balcony, with its balustrade and receding lines, dominates the right. This creates a spatial tension, a push and pull, preventing the viewer from settling on one focal point. He doesn't present a complete or stable view, but rather a fragment, an arrested moment. This invites us to question what is beyond the frame. The hazy atmosphere achieved through pastel blurs the distinction between figure and ground, mirroring the fleeting nature of modern life that so intrigued Degas and his contemporaries. Through this work, Degas challenges our conventional modes of seeing.