Woman Ironing

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This is the last in a series of women ironing which Degas had started in the early 1870s. Degas¡¯ laundress pictures paralleled his more famous ballet dancer series. For both, he s tudied the precise movements of women at work. With his ¡®Naturalist¡¯ approach, he depicted subjects commonly considered vulgar ¨C laundresses were perceived as borderline prostitutes. The woman here appears strong and dignified. Degas has also emphasised the painting¡¯s aesthetic effects. A combination of rose-red and green helps intensify the colours. The woman¡¯s outlined and cropped figure reveals Degas¡¯s debts to Japanese art and snapshot photography. Title Woman Ironing Creator Edgar Degas Creator Lifespan 1834/1917 Creator Nationality French. Creator Gender Male Creator Death Place Paris, France Creator Birth Place Paris, France Date Created 1892/1895 tag / style Edgar Degas; Impressionism; woman; ironing; laundress; interior Physical Dimensions w635 x h800 cm (without frame) Artist biographical information Hilaire Germain Edgar Degas (1834-1917) was one of the principal organisers of the group of Impressionist exhibitions that took place in Paris between 1874 and 1886. Degas, alongside his close friend Edward Manet was the most important of the avant-garde French Artists working in a so-called ¡®Naturalist¡¯ manor. Much of Degas¡¯ subject matter was Parisian, including dancers, prostitutes, shop assistants, caf¨¦-concert singers, jockeys and laundresses. Two thirds of all his pictures were of women, including his famous Ballet dancer works. Additional artwork information This painting was the subject of a gallery talk given at the Walker Art Gallery by its Director Reyahn King. To read the transcript from this talk, or listen to the podcast please follow the link below http //www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/podcasts/transcripts/degas_gallery_talk.asp Type Oil on canvas Rights Purchased with the assistance of the Art Fund in 1968 Show more