Pregnant Woman, Design c. 1896, cast c. 1919

The French painter and sculptor Edgar Degas (1834–1917) created introverted figures which, rather than representing, appear occupied with themselves. The depiction of a female nude in the state of pregnancy represented a breach of taboo at the time. Degas had a fascination for everyday phenomena dedicated to the moment. The woman is standing upright, her head bent and her hands on her pregnant belly. With this dedication to the moment, the animated surface molding and the high degree of realism, Degas managed to bring his figure to life. The artist turned to sculpture only in the late period of his oeuvre, when his eyesight deteriorated with age. It was only after his death that his wax models were cast in bronze.

AK, 2021