Bathers on the grass 1890

Editor: So, this is Edgar Degas's "Bathers on the Grass," made around 1890 using pastel. It has such an intimate feel to it. The way the figures are arranged makes me feel like I'm intruding on a private moment. What's your take on it? Curator: The work presents a study in contrasts through its formal elements. The positioning of the figures against the ground creates a dialogue between stillness and implied movement. Note how the reclining figure in the background provides a horizontal stability, a line, against which the seated figure's diagonals unfold. Editor: I see what you mean about the diagonals. The seated figure is almost a triangle pointing downward, making the eye move. Does the medium, pastel, influence how we read it? Curator: Undoubtedly. Pastel lends itself to layering and blending, evident in the soft transitions of light and shadow on the figures. Degas manipulates the texture of the pastel to define form while simultaneously blurring the edges, which, as you astutely noticed, contributes to the intimate mood you mentioned earlier. It rejects the hyperrealism of other nudes at the time. Editor: So it's almost as if the focus is less on perfect representation and more on creating a certain feeling through the manipulation of the medium and form? Curator: Precisely. Consider the green, it's not a faithful representation of grass as a photographic painting style might require. Instead it complements and contrasts with the muted color palette to further express a certain psychological disposition. Editor: This has really highlighted the relationship between form, medium, and the emotional impact of the artwork. Thanks! Curator: My pleasure, a painting, drawing, print or sculpture is almost always a complex relationship between these parameters.