Woman Drying Her Hair 1898

Edgar Degas created "Woman Drying Her Hair" at an unknown date, using pastel on paper. Observe the vibrant strokes forming the woman’s hunched posture. The composition emphasizes line and form, creating a sense of immediacy and intimacy. Degas uses a limited color palette, focusing on the contrast between the cool blues of the surroundings and the warm tones of the figure. The texture of the pastel adds a tactile quality, heightening the sensuality of the scene. Degas was interested in the depiction of modern life and often portrayed women in private moments. Here, the woman’s vulnerability is laid bare, challenging traditional idealized nudes. The cropping of the figure and the flattening of the picture plane reflect a modernist concern with surface and abstraction. Through its formal qualities, the artwork prompts us to reflect on the shifting boundaries between public and private, representation and reality. Note the tension between the classical subject matter and the avant-garde techniques. This tension invites us to reconsider how art shapes and reflects cultural values.