Artwork
La Mort de Bara
La Mort de Bara is an oil painting by the Realist artist Edgar Degas. It dates from 1855 and is held in the collection of the Kunsthaus Zürich.
About this work
Overview
This oil painting, dated 1855, is attributed to Edgar Degas and is part of the collection at Kunsthaus Zürich. It presents a solitary nude figure in a quiet, reclining posture, rendered with careful attention to form and lighting. The composition is minimal, with no discernible setting beyond a softly lit background, focusing attention entirely on the body and its stillness.
Subject & Meaning
The figure lies motionless, eyes closed, limbs arranged in a natural, unposed alignment. The absence of narrative context or symbolic elements invites contemplation of vulnerability and rest. The pose suggests introspection or sleep rather than death, despite the title. The work avoids melodrama, instead conveying a private, almost meditative moment.
Technique & Style
Degas employs subtle gradations of light to define the figure’s contours, emphasizing volume without harsh outlines. The brushwork is restrained, favoring smooth transitions over texture. The palette is limited to warm neutrals, enhancing the quiet mood. The composition’s simplicity reflects an early interest in the human form that would later define his more famous works.
History & Provenance
The painting entered the Kunsthaus Zürich’s collection in the 20th century, though its earlier ownership remains undocumented. Its attribution to Degas is based on stylistic analysis and archival records from his early career. No exhibition history or written commentary from the artist survives, leaving much of its origin speculative.
Context
Created during Degas’s formative years, this work aligns with academic traditions of figure study common among French art students of the 1850s. While not a commissioned piece, it reflects the period’s emphasis on anatomical precision and classical ideals. It predates his later focus on dancers and urban scenes, offering insight into his foundational training.
Legacy
Though less known than his later works, this painting contributes to understanding Degas’s development as a draftsman and observer of the body. Its quiet intensity anticipates his lifelong preoccupation with posture, light, and private moments. It remains a modest but significant example of his early engagement with the nude as a subject of quiet observation.
Artist & collection
Artist
Born Hilaire-Germain-Edgar De Gas on 19 July 1834 in Paris, Edgar Degas came from an affluent banking family with aristocratic roots and spent his childhood among the cultivated circles of the French capital.
