After the Bath, Nude Woman Wiping her Nape by Degas

This magnificent pastel of great delicacy illustrates perfectly the plastic research of Degas Edgar around the secret rituals of the female washing. Intimately linked to the Impressionist movement, this work entitled “After the Bath, Nude Woman Wiping her Nape” explores the female anatomy under a modern and innovative light. The artist rejects any artificial pose to capture the body of his model in its purest physical truth.

A nude woman is represented in profile and three-quarters from behind, sitting comfortably in an absorbed and serene pose. She lifts her long red-brown hair with her arms raised, preparing to comb it carefully with a large white towel to dry it. The light caresses the sinuous line of her back and the roundness of her hip, creating beautiful shades of pink on her skin. On the right, a large armchair upholstered with orange and green floral patterns brings a contrasting bright color. The background is treated with flat yellow and ochre tones that bathe the whole room in a warm atmosphere.

Degas Edgar demonstrates an incomparable technical virtuosity in the handling of pastel crayons of the period. His dense and vibrant hatchings beautifully catch the light, giving an almost living texture to the flesh and the furniture. This remarkable work highlights his immense talent as a draftsman.