Young Women Resting in a Field 1882

Edgar Degas made this pastel drawing of women resting around the late 19th century. It's an interesting study in leisure and social class during a period of significant change in France. The artwork shows two young women, possibly from the middle or upper class, enjoying a moment of relaxation in a field. This scene reflects the growing interest in leisure and outdoor activities among the bourgeoisie in France during this time. But look more closely: who gets to enjoy such unhurried moments? The impressionistic style softens the figures, but we can read their poses as nonchalant, unbothered. Degas’s choice of subject matter and his artistic technique reveal much about the cultural values and social structures of his time. Art historians might use sources such as fashion plates, etiquette manuals, and social commentary from the period to better understand the lives of these women. The drawing serves as a lens through which we can examine the social norms, class distinctions, and gender roles of 19th-century France.