Woman Washing Her Left Leg c. 1890s

This bronze sculpture by Edgar Degas depicts a woman in the intimate act of washing her leg. The bending, almost contorted posture echoes ancient motifs of figures caught in private moments of reflection or cleansing. Consider how the act of washing, often a symbol of purification and renewal, appears across various cultures and epochs, from ritual ablutions in religious ceremonies to its presence in classical depictions of nymphs at the bath. The vulnerability expressed in the woman’s posture resonates with similar themes in Renaissance paintings, where bathing figures often symbolize both purity and the recognition of the exposed self. This returns us to the psychological weight of the sculpture. Degas captures a universal human experience, tapping into our collective consciousness, and reminding us of the enduring power of such symbolic acts. Through his rendering, the theme resurfaces, evolved to reflect the modern sensibility.