1889
oil
canvas
From the collection of Norton Simon Museum
Dominant colour
Woman Combing her Hair before a Mirror is a 1889 oil by Edgar Degas, a Impressionism work, held at Norton Simon Museum.
The painting depicts a woman standing in front of a mirror, her right hand raised to her head as she combs her hair. She wears a white dress with a low neckline and a dark sleeve on her right arm. The mirror's reflection shows her face and the back of her head. The woman's pose and the mirror create a sense of intimacy, as if the viewer has stumbled upon a private moment. The artist's use of light and shadow adds depth to the scene, with the woman's face and hands illuminated by an unseen light source. This painting is reminiscent of the work of Edgar Degas, who was known for his depictions of women in everyday activities.
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.
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