The artwork “At the Milliner’s” was created by Edgar Degas in 1882. It is a pastel piece, which falls under the Impressionism movement and is considered a genre painting. This artwork depicts the interior of a hat shop, capturing the essence of 19th-century Parisian life.
In “At the Milliner’s,” there are two primary figures: a customer and a shop assistant. The customer on the left, dressed in dark attire, is trying on a hat, which she seems to be adjusting with her right hand. Her gaze is directed outward, and her posture suggests a sense of elegance and self-awareness. The second figure, the shop assistant, is seen in the background on the right-hand side, standing behind a partition or display stand. Although her actions are somewhat obscured, it appears she may be arranging or presenting another hat, possibly preparing for her next interaction with a client. The pastel medium Degas used allows for vibrant colors and a somewhat hazy, dream-like quality that is characteristic of many Impressionist works. The shop environment is conveyed through the use of soft colors and loose brushwork, creating an atmosphere of a private, everyday moment frozen in time.
