The artwork entitled “The Nurse,” created by Edgar Degas between 1872 and 1873, is an oil painting on canvas that is classified within the genre painting category and is part of the Impressionist art movement. The artwork is presently held in a private collection.
Depicting an intimate interior scene, “The Nurse” portrays a solitary figure seated in a red upholstered armchair. The subject is positioned at the end of a corridor or room, bordered by heavy curtains or drapes that cascade to either side of the composition, creating a sense of depth and enclosure. The nurse, donned in a traditional white headdress and attire associated with her profession, appears in repose, perhaps engaged in a quiet moment of contemplation or rest. The brushwork is loose and expressive, a hallmark of Degas’ style and the Impressionist movement, capturing the play of light and shadow with a harmonious yet restrained palette. A sense of stillness pervades the artwork, although the exact thoughts or the mood of the figure remain elusive, inviting the viewer to ponder the narrative behind the scene.
