Retiring (1879–1888)
Technique: Giclée quality print
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More about this artwork
"Retiring" by Edgar Degas, painted between 1879 and 1888, encapsulates a moment of intimate solitude with its soft pastel tones and delicate brushwork. This artwork showcases a solitary female figure in the midst of her nighttime rituals, her posture and actions suggesting a winding down at the end of the day.The woman, depicted nude, reaches towards a lighted lamp, casting a warm glow across the scene, while a richly textured curtain in shades of green, blue, and orange envelops the background, adding a dream-like quality to the composition. The precise placement of objects, like the small table beside her, highlights Degas's attention to the details of private life and the quiet moments that are typically unseen.Degas's use of light and shadow, combined with his distinctive brushstrokes, conveys not just the physicality of the woman, but also a sense of her inner life and mood.