The artwork entitled “Breakfast after Bath” was created by the renowned artist Edgar Degas, whose work is often associated with the Impressionism movement. The piece dates from circa 1893 to 1898 and is a pastel, a medium known for its rich colors and textural qualities. This work falls within the genre of nude painting (nu) and is currently housed at the Kunstmuseum Winterthur in Winterthur, Switzerland. It exemplifies Degas’s interest in daily life and his mastery of capturing the human form.
In the artwork, the intimate and ordinary moment of everyday life is portrayed with a keen eye for the subtleties of light and shadow. The composition centers on a nude female figure seated on a plush chair, drying herself with a towel after a bath. Her pose is relaxed and unposed, conveying a naturalism that is typical of Degas’s work. To her right stands a clothed servant, holding a tray with a bowl, suggesting the provision of a morning meal. The use of pastel allows for a blend of warm and cool tones that create a sensuous and inviting atmosphere. The servant’s profile and the surrounding space are sketched with an economy of detail that focuses attention on the sensuality and immediacy of the main subject. The delicate rendering of the pastel medium enhances the ephemeral quality of the moment being depicted, encapsulating the impressionist endeavor to capture the fleeting effects of light and mood.
