The artwork “Woman Drying Herself” is a pastel creation by Edgar Degas, dating from approximately 1896 to 1898. Reflecting the Impressionist movement, this nude painting (nu) forms part of the collection at the Scottish National Gallery in Edinburgh, UK.
In the artwork, one observes the intimate post-bathing moment of a woman absorbed in drying herself with a towel. The composition is characterized by a spontaneous and tactile quality that is distinctive of Degas’s later works. The viewer’s perspective seems both above and behind the subject, creating a sense of immediacy and informality. There’s an evident mastery of form and light in how the pastel colors delineate the curves of the woman’s back and the soft textures of the towel and bedding. The background features abstracted shapes and energetic strokes, indicative of the Impressionist style’s emphasis on light and movement. Overall, the artwork captures a fleeting, private moment with an emphasis on the beauty of the human form and the subtleties of color and shading.
