Created from high-quality wood, milled with simple clean lines and presented with a satin finish. Includes an off-white mount that will not discolour or fade with age. - Simple, elegant design - Premium, fine art paper with a gently textured surface - Handmade by specialist picture framers - FSC certified off-white mat / window mount - Delivered ready for hanging

"Naked Lady. Après le bain (Femme s'essuyant)" (circa 1886) by Edgar Degas is a striking and intimate work, encapsulating the artist's fascination with the private moments of modern life. The painting depicts a woman, nude, caught in the delicate act of drying herself after a bath. The composition focuses on her hunched form, creating a sense of intimate observation without the eroticism typically associated with nude studies. Degas captures her natural, unposed posture, emphasizing the raw, unrefined moments that follow a bath. She is partially stooped over, her body slightly turned away from the viewer, drawing attention to the curvature of her back and the contours of her shoulders and arms as she maneuvers the towel.

The surrounding environment is sparsely detailed, allowing the viewer's focus to remain entirely on the figure's movements. The painting's background uses muted tones of blues and ochres, creating a harmonious yet subdued atmosphere. The interplay of light and shadow on her skin is skillfully rendered, showcasing Degas' expertise in the use of pastels, a medium through which he explored his innovative approach to color and texture. The subtle blending and layering of hues highlight the softness of her flesh, enhancing the sense of realism and immediacy.

The original painting "Après le bain (Femme s'essuyant)" is housed in the Musée d'Orsay in Paris, France. It stands as a testament to Degas' transition from historical subjects and portraiture to more intimate, personal studies of the human form in natural settings. This work is significant within Degas' oeuvre as it exemplifies his break from classical traditions, aligning more closely with Impressionist sensibilities despite his own ambivalence about being labeled as such. The painting's candid depiction of a woman in a private moment aligns with the Impressionist interest in modern life and ephemeral moments.

Edgar Degas (1834-1917) was a prolific artist known for his portrayal of movement, particularly of dancers, women at work, and intimate nude studies. His works often conveyed a sense of voyeurism, capturing spontaneous moments with a raw, unfiltered lens. During the 1880s, Degas increasingly focused on pastels, a medium that allowed him to explore the subtleties and transitions of light and color, which is evident in "Après le bain." This period also marks his growing interest in series, where he would revisit the same motif or subject repeatedly, each time discovering new angles and interpretations.

Degas' approach was meticulous and innovative, often working from memory or preliminary sketches rather than direct observation. His commitment to depicting the complexities of the human form in routine, unglamorous moments has ensured his place as a master of modern art, bridging traditional techniques with avant-garde themes. "Après le bain (Femme s'essuyant)" exemplifies these qualities, offering viewers a glimpse into the private sphere of 19th-century life with an unprecedented intimacy and empathy.