Femme À Sa Toilette c. 1892

Edgar Degas made this pastel drawing called 'Femme À Sa Toilette'. Though undated, the work is evocative of the artist's many images of women, often nudes, in private moments. Degas was part of the Impressionist movement, but often chose subjects that offered a glimpse into the everyday lives of Parisians, particularly women. The images provide insight into the complex social and gender dynamics of 19th-century France. During this time, women's identities were often confined to domestic roles and societal expectations about beauty and propriety. Degas's choice to depict women in private, seemingly unposed moments was a departure from traditional representations in art. Here, a woman is captured washing, seemingly unaware of the viewer. This voyeuristic perspective raises questions about the male gaze, and how women were, and sometimes still are, seen as objects. Degas doesn't offer a romanticized version of femininity. Instead, his interest lies in capturing candid moments that, in their very authenticity, provoke questions about how we look, who is looking, and what it means to be seen.