Seated Woman Adjusting Her Hair 1890

Edgar Degas made this pastel drawing of a woman adjusting her hair sometime in the late 19th century. At first glance, it's a simple domestic scene, but it speaks volumes about the changing role of women in French society and how art institutions were grappling with representing modern life. Degas was part of the Impressionist movement, which sought to capture fleeting moments and everyday subjects. The image defies academic traditions that focused on historical or mythological scenes. By depicting a woman in such an intimate, unguarded moment, Degas challenged the conventional, often idealized, portrayals of women in art. To truly understand Degas, one must look at the context in which this was made. France was undergoing rapid social and economic change, and the art world was struggling to find its place in this new reality. Art historians often consult a range of period sources: newspapers, letters, exhibition reviews and institutional records to shed light on the complex social and political forces that shaped artworks like this.