Edgar Degas

impressionism

Edgar Degas Paintings 1834 - 1917 Painter,Sculptor, France, Impressionism

Women Ironing, 1884-1886

Oil on canvas

Private collection

Figurative Art

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OIL PAINTING: Women Ironing, 1884-1886
     Degas's laundress paintings paralleled his more famous ballet dancer series. For both he studied the precise movements of women at work.
     The art of Degas was that of a 'Naturalist', depicting what was considered vulgar - laundresses were commonly thought of as borderline prostitutes - in a way that was almost scientific.
     A double viewpoint is used in Women Ironing - looking straight at the women's face and down at their boards. Their outlined and cropped figures also indicate Degas's debts to both Japanese art and snapshot photography.