“At the Milliner’s,” created by Edgar Degas in 1881, is a pastel artwork from the Impressionism movement, known for its vivid depiction of light and color. Measuring 69.2 x 69.2 cm, this genre painting is part of the collection at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.
In the artwork, we see a woman closely examining a hat, with her face partially obscured by it. She appears to be in the intimate setting of a milliner’s shop, where hats are sold and often custom-decorated. The woman’s attention to the hat suggests that she is very much engaged with choosing the right accessory, a common theme in works depicting everyday life in the late 19th century. The use of light and shadow plays across the scene, capturing the textures of the fabric of both the hat and the woman’s clothing. The background is muted, providing a contrast that emphasizes the interactions between the customer and the merchandise, which is a focal point of the composition. Degas’s choice of pastels allows for soft yet vibrant coloring, perfectly aligning with the Impressionist aim to render momentary effects of light and color.
