Study of a Draped Figure 1857 - 1858

Edgar Degas's "Study of a Draped Figure" (1857-1858) showcases the artist's early interest in the human form. This charcoal drawing, held in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, depicts a single figure, likely a male, draped in a toga-like garment. Degas's meticulous attention to detail in capturing the folds and textures of the fabric foreshadows his later explorations of movement and form in ballet dancers. The figure's pose, with one arm raised, suggests a gesture of either address or contemplation, adding an element of narrative to the otherwise anatomical study.