After the Bath, Woman Drying Herself

"After the Bath, Woman Drying Herself", painted by Edgar Degas between 1890 and 1900, offers a captivating glimpse into a private moment. This beautiful pastel on canvas, currently housed in the Princeton University Art Museum, measures 0.86 meters by 0.755 meters. nn Notice how Degas captures the intimacy of the scene. The woman, depicted nude, is crouched on the ground, her body turned away from us. We observe her in a moment of quiet self-care as she dries herself with a white towel, her head tilted back, perhaps drying her hair. nn The background is a striking contrast, a vibrant, almost abstract explosion of orange, red, blue, and green brushstrokes. This energetic pattern could be a floral wallpaper or a tapestry, adding a decorative element to the composition. nn Degas masterfully uses light and shadow to give the woman's body a remarkable sense of volume and depth, especially noticeable on her back and legs. The soft, muted tones of pink, brown, and gray used for her body stand out against the colorful backdrop, drawing our attention to her form. nn What do you think that dark blue area in the left background represents? A bathtub? A piece of furniture? These subtle hints further suggest we are in a bathroom setting, adding to the intimacy of the moment Degas has captured.