The artwork “Woman at Her Bath” by Edgar Degas was created in the period from approximately 1893 to 1898. This piece is an oil on canvas and falls under the genre of nude painting (nu), exhibiting the stylistic traits of the Impressionist movement. The painting is currently housed in the Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO) located in Toronto, Canada.
In “Woman at Her Bath,” the piece depicts a candid scene of a nude woman in the midst of her bathing routine. The subject is seen from behind, bending over the edge of a bathtub. Degas’ use of soft brushstrokes and his subtle, yet vivid, color palette captures the intimate moment with a delicate sensibility that is characteristic of his work. The figure’s flesh tones are rendered with a warm naturalism, contrasting against the more abstracted and colorful background elements. The composition is balanced yet dynamic, emphasizing the spontaneity of the moment and echoing the Impressionist fascination with the play of light and color. The painting evokes a private, unguarded moment, a theme the artist often explored in his depictions of women performing ordinary activities.
