Woman Washing Her Feet 1893

Edgar Degas made this pastel drawing called "Woman Washing Her Feet" sometime in the late 19th century. The image presents a woman in a private, intimate act of personal hygiene. Now, the late 19th century was a period of significant social change in France, with shifting ideas about gender roles and public versus private life. Degas was part of the Impressionist movement, who challenged the art establishment by depicting everyday subjects and exploring new ways of seeing. But whereas his peers often looked to the streets and cafes for subject matter, Degas was drawn to the theater and to the domestic sphere. What did it mean, then, for him to bring this very private moment of a woman washing into the public view through art? To understand this, we might look at the history of art academies and exhibitions in France, the rise of Realism and Impressionism, and the changing status of women in French society. By doing so, we can better understand Degas's artistic choices and what they might have meant in his time.