Woman with a Bandage 1873

Edgar Degas painted this oil on canvas, “Woman with a Bandage,” in France at the end of the 19th century. It portrays a woman who is possibly ill, sitting indoors with a bandage wrapped around her head. This image prompts us to think about the social conditions that shaped artistic production in the late 1800s. On the one hand, we can consider the sitter’s social class by examining the interior and her clothing. However, the bandage perhaps makes the sitter appear vulnerable, which might suggest an interest in naturalism, a progressive movement that aimed to represent life’s harsh realities. Was Degas, who came from a wealthy family and exhibited in elite institutions, interested in challenging social norms by depicting illness? As historians, we might examine medical records or popular literature from 19th-century France. This could give us insights into cultural attitudes toward illness. It reminds us that a work of art always reflects its social and institutional context.