Two Women leaning on an armchair by Degas

Drawn with remarkable psychological acuity and dramatic sensitivity, this double portrait by Degas Edgar, associated with the Impressionist movement, stands under the title of “Two Women leaning on an armchair” among his interior scenes. The artist leaves the world of the Opera to explore the hushed intimacy of the Parisian bourgeoisie. This composition perfectly illustrates his ability to suggest complex relationships and silent tension through simple physical postures.

Two women dressed in sumptuous salmon pink dresses and blue-grey bodices are busy in a warm, cozy, luxurious and elegant living room. On the left, a first woman stands three-quarters towards the right, her silent and thoughtful gaze directed upwards, her arms crossed behind her back. To her left, her elegant companion leans slightly forward, her face lowered and arms crossed over her chest in an listening attitude. In the bottom right corner, a bright and warm orange-red sofa structures the foreground. The background shows a grey mantelpiece topped by two blue earthenware vases containing tall and decorative green plants.

This work celebrates the painter’s pictorial skill through an exceptional mastery of pastels. The artist uses a supple touch and warm color contrasts to structure the space and model the volumes, breathing a hushed atmosphere and a soft emotion into this poignant and timeless genre scene.