(After) Edgar Degas: "Woman Viewed from Behind"

This painting portrays a woman seen from behind, rendered with loose and expressive brushstrokes. Positioned in the center-lower right part of the composition, the woman looks towards the left. The background elements are vague, presenting a diagonal compositional line that contrasts with the direction of the woman's gaze.

Details:

Artist: (After) Edgar Degas
Title: Woman Viewed from Behind
Medium: Tempera on Paper
Dimensions: 9.5 x 7.75 in (24.1 x 19.7 cm)

Condition Report:
The artwork is in good condition overall, with visible signs of aging. However, the paper appears somewhat warped due to the passage of time.

Notes:
The lower left corner bears the artist's signature, signifying the association with Edgar Degas. On the verso, the artwork is marked "E.D, 51," and a stamp indicates "Le Pavillion des Arts Paris," providing additional historical context and provenance.

About the Artist:
Edgar Degas was a brilliant artist renowned for his ability to explore the language of art with technical and tactile complexity. He navigated various styles and subject matters while retaining his focus on the human figure in both public and private moments. Degas balanced Romantic sensibility with Classical artistic mastery, combining sensuality with keen observation and a dedication to visual structure.

His artistic journey exhibited a remarkable evolution—from the gloomy academicism of his early years to the full-blooded social realism of the 1870s and finally to the dazzling, expansive work of his later years. Degas's career encapsulates the awe-inspiring transformation of the modern period. He shifted from a state-controlled, historical art environment to embrace individual crisis and pave the way for a new era.

Over the years, Degas's reputation underwent fluctuations. He gained recognition during his mature period but faced criticism and withdrawal in his later years due to changing artistic trends. However, the 1960s and '70s witnessed a significant reevaluation of his significance, with a surge of specialized publications, exhibitions, and growing interest in his portraits, drawings, prints, monotypes, notebooks, and sculptures.

Throughout history, debates surrounding Degas's work continue to intrigue art enthusiasts, feminists, and scholars. His art became a subject of discussions about misogyny and the perceived prurience of certain scenes, shedding light on the elusive nature of his depictions and his shift away from topical themes in later years. As such discussions persist, it becomes evident that Degas's true stature and impact on the art world are yet to be fully comprehended and appreciated.