Torso: Woman Rubbing Her Back with a Sponge 1883 - 1920

This bronze sculpture of a torso, made by Edgar Degas, captures a fleeting moment of self-care. I can imagine the artist, Degas, working the clay, pushing and prodding to find a way to show the body in motion. There is a sense of weight in the piece, in her stance, as well as a feeling of intimacy and privacy. It feels like such a personal thing, attending to your own body. The surface is textured, almost rough, contrasting with the smoothness of skin. The muted browns and bronzes add to the sense of earthiness and physicality, reminding me of the many other paintings and sculptures that explore the human form. Artists are always in conversation with one another, across time, inspiring each other to see and feel and represent the world in new ways. Sculpture and painting both offer ways of seeing the world, asking questions and capturing those ephemeral moments of human experience.