“The Millinery Shop” is an oil on canvas artwork by Edgar Degas created in 1884. Measuring 99.4 x 110.2 cm, this piece is an exemplar of the Impressionist movement, known for its portrayal of modern life and its distinctive brushwork. The artwork falls under the genre of genre painting and is housed in the Art Institute of Chicago, located in Chicago, IL, US.
The artwork demonstrates a moment seized from daily life within a millinery shop, where hats were a fashionable accessory for women of the era. In the foreground, an assortment of hats exhibits the luxurious and fashionable designs of the time. A figure, presumably a shop assistant or a milliner, is seated, attending to a hat with great focus and craftsmanship. The use of light and shadow, along with the soft brushstrokes, imparts an evanescent and ephemeral quality to the scene, key characteristics of the Impressionist style. The arrangement of the hats, the individual absorbed in their task, and the blend of warm and cool tones all contribute to a lively yet contemplative atmosphere. Degas demonstrates an intimate portrayal of Parisian life, spotlighting the nuanced and often overlooked labor embedded within the fashion industry of the late 19th century.
