Woman on a Sofa

Description

Woman on a Sofa by Edgar Degas captures a relaxed seated pose with bold lines and broad passages of color. The woman’s arm stretches along the back of the sofa, while her full skirt spreads across the lower half of the composition. Blue ribbons sweep through the dark fabric against a warm peach ground.

Her face turns to the side, giving the scene the feeling of a moment observed in passing. Sparse outlines establish the furniture without closing in the surrounding space. The dress carries much of the visual energy, its folds and ribbons balancing the easy extension of the sitter’s arm.