Nude

My name is Feely T. Heart, and I will be your guide today through one of our paintings: Nude. nn Created in 1888, this intimate print by Edgar Degas offers a glimpse into the artist's fascination with the human form. On display here at the National Gallery of Art, Nude presents a woman seated with her back to us. Measuring just 0.178 meters high and 0.125 meters wide, the print draws our focus to the delicate curve of her back and the way her weight settles as she sits with her legs crossed. nn Notice how Degas uses sketchy, almost hesitant lines. This technique, characteristic of his style, gives the artwork a sense of immediacy, as if capturing a fleeting moment. The background is left undefined, further emphasizing the woman as the central focus. While we only see a hint of her face as she turns her head, it is her body, rendered in subtle light and shadow, that speaks volumes. The cloth casually draped over her hair adds to the sense of intimacy, suggesting a private and comfortable space. nn Degas was a master at capturing the everyday moments of life, and with Nude, he elevates a simple pose into an elegant study of the female form.