Woman Seated on a Balcony (1872) by Edgar Degas

Woman Seated on a Balcony - Edgar Degas - 1872

Artwork Information

TitleWoman Seated on a Balcony
ArtistEdgar Degas
Date1872
Mediumpastel
Art MovementImpressionism

About Woman Seated on a Balcony

The artwork “Woman Seated on a Balcony” is a distinguished piece created by the artist Edgar Degas in the year 1872. Operating with the medium of pastel, Degas contributes to the Impressionism art movement through this portrait. The piece reflects the characteristic elements of Impressionism through its brushwork and a sense of capturing a moment in time.

In the artwork, a woman is depicted seated on a balcony, characterized by its cast-iron railings that feature prominently to her right. She occupies the left side of the composition, dressed in a dress with orange accents and a black choker, which contrasts against her pale skin and the light-hued dress. Her expression is subdued and contemplative, perhaps suggesting a moment of introspection or rest. The background reveals a hazy rendering of the balcony and adjacent structures, emphasizing the fleeting nature of light and atmosphere, signature traits of Impressionism.

The pastel medium has been employed to convey softness and a certain ethereality to the scene, with delicate strokes and blurred lines contributing to an overall sense of impermanence and ephemerality. Degas has masterfully balanced detail and suggestion, allowing viewers to fill in the visual narrative with their own interpretations.

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