1900
pastel
paper
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
After the Bath: Woman Drying Herself is a 1900 pastel by Edgar Degas, a Impressionism work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This sketch shows a woman bending over to dry her feet after a bath. Her back is turned, and you can see her arms reaching down toward a towel on the floor. The drawing is loose and quick, with soft charcoal lines that catch the curves of her body and the folds of the towel. Notice how the artist didn’t smooth out every line—it looks like a quick study, almost like a snapshot. The light is gentle, and the pastel tones keep it warm and natural. Next, check out how pastel works as a medium—it’s softer than pencil but can still hold rich detail.
Born Hilaire-Germain-Edgar De Gas on 19 July 1834 in Paris, Edgar Degas came from an affluent banking family with aristocratic roots and spent his childhood among the cultivated circles of the French capital.
See the richer artist page
