Leaving the Bath 1879 - 1880

Curator: The tonal range Degas achieves in this drypoint print, titled "Leaving the Bath," made between 1879 and 1880, is remarkable. What are your first impressions? Editor: It's quite evocative; the contrast makes the bather almost emerge from the shadows, capturing a private, almost fleeting moment with stark beauty. Curator: Degas often focused on women in their intimate spaces. It’s interesting to consider the marketplace demand for these sorts of images—the voyeuristic appeal packaged as high art. What do you think is the importance of making those contexts apparent when we examine the formal decisions present? Editor: Agreed; context is vital. Structurally, notice how the lines are etched quite heavily around the figure, which brings the body into sharp relief against a blurrier background of shadow. Curator: Right, and that contrast might also speak to class differences, in a way. Who could afford such luxury, or access to such intimate labor? What assumptions do we bring when observing representations like this? The artist uses drypoint in such a unique way, almost challenging our traditional understanding about beauty in fine art prints. Editor: Perhaps, but that roughness, almost an unfinished quality, makes the scene feel modern and spontaneous. You can almost feel the tension in the figure as she quickly grabs the towel. Curator: Do you think this evokes tension due to its stark social environment and the conditions that come with that period? This adds depth to the narrative, doesn’t it? I mean the labor conditions around access to hot water alone would give pause. Editor: Ultimately, these opposing perspectives enrich our comprehension. The image, through Degas’ skillful interplay of form and material, offers multiple possibilities, simultaneously speaking of intimacy, labor, and perhaps even a social divide, all within a single glance. Curator: Absolutely; looking closer today helps us reflect on both Degas' technical artistry and the broader implications of representing private moments in a public forum, even in his era.