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Woman Combing Her Hair

ca. 1888–90
Not on view
This is the second of two variants of a composition that Degas created about 1885 (State Hermitage Museum, St. Petersburg). In this version, he used a new technique, applying pastel in so many successive layers that the pigment became burnished and the underlying paper rubbed to such an extent that the fibers were loosened and now project from the surface like many little hairs. Degas also emphasized anti-natural chartreuses and greens in modeling the figure’s pink flesh, perhaps inspired by the play of complementary color contrasts in the work of such younger contemporaries as Seurat or Van Gogh.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Woman Combing Her Hair
  • Artist: Edgar Degas (French, Paris 1834–1917 Paris)
  • Date: ca. 1888–90
  • Medium: Pastel on light green wove paper, now discolored to warm gray, affixed to original pulpboard mount
  • Dimensions: 24 1/8 x 18 1/8 in. (61.3 x 46 cm)
  • Classification: Drawings
  • Credit Line: Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Nate B. Spingold, 1956
  • Object Number: 56.231
  • Curatorial Department: European Paintings

More Artwork

More Artwork
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Huit Sonnets. . .Illustré de dix-nuef dessins inédits de Edgar Degas
Edgar Degas
Wittenborn and Co., La Jeune Parque
1946
Seated Woman in Bonnet and Shawl, Edgar Degas French, Aquatint, drypoint, and etching; printed from canceled plate
Seated Woman in Bonnet and Shawl
Edgar Degas
ca. 1879
At the Café des Ambassadeurs, Edgar Degas French, Etching, softground, drypoint, and aquatint; fifth (final) state; canceled plate
At the Café des Ambassadeurs
Edgar Degas
1879–80
Greek Landscape, Edgar Degas French, Etching (only state; impression from cancelled plate)
Greek Landscape
Edgar Degas
1856
On Stage III, Edgar Degas French, Softground etching,drypoint, and roulette on wove paper; fourth state of five
On Stage III
Edgar Degas
1876–77

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