Edgar Degas
French, 1834-1917
The Milliners, About 1882-before 1905
Oil on canvas
Fascinated by the millinery trade, Degas made numerous images of female hat makers and buyers. This strikingly austere late work was continuously rethought and repainted over the course of twenty-five years. What began as an image of shoppers was transformed into a complex, poignant double portrait of workers. The figures are intentionally rendered with varying levels of finish— the woman at left is more fully realized than her shadowy counterpart. Degas's process here was to continually reduce anecdotal details down to the looming hat stands and vibrant ribbons. The final product is thoroughly modern in sensibility, com-position, and technique.
