Paris 1834 - 1917 Paris

Femme nue debout à sa toilette (Nude Woman standing, drying herself)

1891–92, Lithograph, transfer from monotype crayon, tusche, and scraping. On strong crème colored wove paper.

33 : 23.5 cm

The bather lithographs were Degas last attempt in printmaking. Degas has focused here on the back of a model performing her toilette. He explores this
powerful pose in six separate lithographs. Alone this image, he explored the technique in six diffe­rent states. With regards to the techniques used, there are still unanswered questions. Degas and the printer used unusual combinations of materials and processes, that are often no longer comprehensible.
The sixth final state shows again the work with acid in which a large area of the left side of the print is bleached out. Elements have been removed, including the entire back of the chase, but the size of the image has not been reduced.
Reed-Shapero has located eight impressions. Stogdon in his Degas catalogue speaks of twelve impressions of this state. Very fine impression in excellent condition.