Woman Bathing in a Shallow Tub 1885

Edgar Degas made this pastel drawing, *Woman Bathing in a Shallow Tub*, in France, around 1885. This seemingly intimate portrayal of a woman bathing connects to a wider cultural context of changing social norms and the rise of modern life. Degas's choice of subject matter reflects a shift towards depicting everyday life, rather than idealized or historical scenes. The informal pose and the cropped composition challenge traditional academic conventions. We see Degas borrowing from Japanese prints, which had a big influence on European art at the time, with their asymmetrical compositions and focus on ordinary subjects. Degas was part of the Impressionist movement, which questioned the established art institutions and sought to capture fleeting moments and subjective experiences. To understand this work better, we can explore the social history of hygiene and privacy in 19th-century France through resources such as historical archives, personal letters, and medical records. This image prompts us to reflect on the role of art in representing and shaping our understanding of the human experience.