“The Tub” is a pastel artwork by Edgar Degas, dating from around 1900. This work is situated within the Impressionist movement and falls under the genre of nude paintings. The artwork is housed at the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum in Glasgow, UK. It depicts a singular figure of a woman engaging in her personal bathing ritual.
The artwork conveys a sense of intimacy and unguarded moment, capturing the private act of bathing with a masterful use of light and color. The figure is bent over a circular tub, her back to the viewer, in a pose that emphasizes the natural curves of her body. The warm and cool tones, a striking feature of Degas’s pastel technique, create a juxtaposition that enhances the texture and depth of the scene. The rough, sketch-like strokes are indicative of the Impressionist style, with a focus on the play of light and shadow rather than on fine detail. Degas’s composition offers a candid snapshot that elevates an ordinary daily task to the level of fine art, showcasing his unique ability to portray the human form with both realism and sensitivity.
