Woman Getting out of the Bath

Art Historical Context

In the intimate bronze sculpture *Woman Getting out of the*, Edgar Degas captures a fleeting moment of private vulnerability. Modeled around 1890 or later and cast in 1920 by the found A.-A. Hébrard et Cie, this16¾-inch figure depicts a woman rising from her bath, her body twisted in a natural, unposed gesture. The work exemplifies Degas's lifelong fascination with the female nude everyday settings, particularly bathing scenes, which he explored in paintings, pastels, and sculptures. Degas, a key figure in French Impressionism yet distinct for his realist precision and interest in movement, created many such wax models in his later years when failing eyesight limited his painting. These were posthumously cast in bronze, preserving their delicate surfaces—here, the patina enhances the soft, tactile quality of damp skin and towel folds. The sculpture's small scale invites close contemplation, highlighting Degas's innovative technique of studying the body from unconventional angles, as if spied through a keyhole. A highlight of the Metropolitan Museum of Art's European Sculpture collection, this piece entered via the H.O. Havemeyer bequest in 1929. It reflects late 19th-century Parisian culture's blend of domestic realism and subtle eroticism, offering visitors a window into Degas's private obsession with the female form in motion.

About the Artist

Edgar Degas|A.-A. Hébrard et Cie · 1834–1917

Edgar Degas (1834-1917) stands as one of the most innovative artists of the nineteenth century, whose distinctive vision transformed how modern life could be depicted on canvas. Born Hilaire-Germain-Edgar De Gas in Paris to a wealthy banking family—his father French, his mother a Louisiana Creole from New Orleans—Degas received a classical education before abandoning law studies in 1855 to pursue ...