Woman Putting on her Gloves 1877

Edgar Degas painted “Woman Putting on her Gloves” during a time of significant shifts in the representation of women in art and society. Degas's nuanced portrayal invites us to consider the social expectations placed on women, particularly within the upper classes of 19th-century Parisian society. The act of putting on gloves, seemingly mundane, becomes a focal point for exploring themes of identity and performance. Gloves can be interpreted as a symbol of bourgeois femininity, an article of clothing which served to protect and conceal the hands of women. While the woman's gaze drifts away, seemingly lost in thought, we are left to wonder about the thoughts and emotions that lie beneath her composed exterior. Does the artwork reinforce traditional gender roles, or does it offer a glimpse into the complexities of female experience? Degas captures a sense of introspection, inviting us to reflect on the intricate ways in which women navigate the constraints and expectations imposed upon them.