Woman Washing Her Left Leg (First State) 1878 - 1920

This bronze sculpture, Woman Washing Her Left Leg, was created by Edgar Degas, a French artist who lived from 1834 to 1917. Degas was a keen observer of women's lives, often depicting them in intimate, private moments. During the late 19th century, the female body was frequently idealized or sexualized in art. Here, though, Degas presents a woman in a moment of private ablution, capturing an unglamorous, unposed view of a figure bending to wash her leg. The sculpture invites us to consider the relationship between the female body, labor, and privacy. It contrasts the public expectations of women's appearance with the reality of their everyday lives. Degas's choice to depict this intimate act challenges traditional representations of women, instead emphasizing the physicality and routine aspects of their lives. It’s a study of the body in motion, the woman's effort palpable as she attends to a simple act of self-care.