Woman Seated in an Armchair, Wiping Her Neck c. 1890 - 1952

This bronze sculpture of a woman wiping her neck was made by Edgar Degas, though the date remains unknown. Look at how the light plays across the textured surface, catching on the peaks and hollows of the bronze. You can almost feel the artist's hand working the clay, pressing and shaping the form, building up the figure bit by bit. I wonder what Degas was thinking as he made this, was he trying to capture a fleeting moment of vulnerability, a private act of self-care? The woman's pose is so casual, so unposed. The whole scene is so intimate! It reminds me of the rough-hewn quality of Rodin's sculptures, which is interesting because those guys were always looking at each other’s work. It's like they were having this big conversation, pushing each other to see the body in new ways. Painting and sculpture, they're all part of this ongoing exchange, where artists riff on each other's ideas, challenge conventions, and keep the conversation alive.