Woman Having Her Hair Combed
ca. 1886–88
Medium
Pastel on light green wove paper, now discolored to warm gray, affixed to original pulpboard mount
Dimensions
29 1/8 x 23 7/8 in. (74 x 60.6 cm)
Classification
Drawings
Department
European Paintings
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
H. O. Havemeyer Collection, Bequest of Mrs. H. O. Havemeyer, 1929
Accession Number
29.100.35
Tags
Art Historical Context
Edgar Degas masterfully captures an intimate moment in *Woman Having Her Hair Combed* (ca. 1886–88), a poignant depiction of a female nude in a private act of grooming. Created during the artist's later career, this work reflects Degas' lifelong fascination with women in everyday, unguarded settings—such as bathers and hairdressers—offering glimpses into the quiet beauty of modern life in late 19th-century France. As an Impressionist (though Degas rejected the label), he elevated such mundane scenes to high art, emphasizing natural poses and psychological depth over idealized beauty. Executed...
About the Artist
Edgar Degas · 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 ...