Head of a Woman
- Artist: Hilaire-Germain-Edgar Degas
- Date: about 1873
- Medium: Oil on canvas
- Museum: The National Gallery
- Collection record: The National Gallery website
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About this artwork
This is the "Head of a Woman" by Hilaire-Germain-Edgar Degas, painted in the late 19th century. The woman depicted here remains anonymous - it's believed she was one of the artist's models. What's striking about this painting is its intimate scale and focus on the subject's face.
Notice how the brushstrokes are loose and expressive, creating a sense of immediacy and spontaneity. Degas was known for his portraits, but this one feels almost like a fragment - some art historians even think it might have been part of a larger canvas that was cut down at some point.
The "Head of a Woman" is a great example of the Realist movement's emphasis on everyday life and ordinary subjects. It's also a wonderful representation of Degas' skill as a painter, particularly in capturing the subtleties of light and texture on skin.
See it in person
Head of a Woman hangs in The National Gallery on Trafalgar Square, London — free to enter. Point your phone at any artwork there and audioguide.london plays a free audio guide in six languages — no app download needed.
