The artwork titled “Woman on a Terrace (Young Woman and Ibis)” was painted by the artist Edgar Degas in 1857. This oil on canvas is associated with the Impressionist art movement and is categorized as a genre painting. Currently, the painting can be found in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.
In the artwork, a young woman is depicted standing on a terrace, accompanied by two strikingly red ibises. The woman’s figure is draped in a sumptuous blue garment which envelops her form and provides a contrast to the vibrancy of the birds. Her pose is one of tranquility and introspection, as she appears to be lost in thought, with her gaze directed away from the viewer and towards the horizon. The soft transitions of color in the background suggest the glow of a setting or rising sun, while the contours of an urban landscape faintly emerge. The ibises, rendered with bold color but soft edges, imbue the scene with a sense of the exotic and a touch of romanticism, possibly alluding to connections or narratives beyond the visible.
Degas’s brushwork and the atmospheric qualities of the backdrop are characteristic of the Impressionist movement’s interest in light, color, and momentary impressions, although Degas’s precise work often stood apart from his contemporaries’ more spontaneous representations. Despite this, the painting maintains an air of mystery and emotional depth, inviting viewers to ponder the story behind the woman and her avian companions.
