60 × 50cm

oil on canvas

2021

Part of a series of paintings from 2021 exploring the artist’s model, female nudes and the interior. This painting is based on a pastel by Edgar Degas, drawn by the artist as part of a series of drawings and paintings exploring the nude woman after her bath, brushing her, or in private moments in her room.

I was drawn to the image having long been influenced by the pastels of Degas. I was particularly interested in how uncomfortable the pose must have been for the model. The title of the piece refers to a quote by Degas, comparing women to ‘animals cleaning themselves’.