Woman Having Her Hair Combed

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 in pastel on light green wove paper—now subtly discolored to a warm gray—the drawing showcases Degas' revolutionary technique. He layered and blended soft pastels with extraordinary precision, achieving luminous skin tones, fluid textures, and a sense of immediacy on the large-scale sheet (29 1/8 x 23 7/8 in.). Affixed to its original pulpboard mount, it preserves the work's delicate vibrancy, highlighting pastel as a medium rivaling oil painting in expressiveness. Acquired through the renowned H.O. Havemeyer Collection and now housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's European Paintings department (classified as Drawings), this piece underscores Degas' influence on modern figure studies. Visitors are drawn to its tender humanity, inviting reflection on vulnerability and femininity in art.

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 ...