Degasanticipated the modern candid camera by many years. Here his models are caught in the midst of their gestures, unposed and unaware of being observed. The artist has dared to represent one figure stretching and yawning and the other absorbed in her ironing. Such commonplace incidents were absent from painting until the Impressionists; andDegaswas perhaps unique in finding an almost classical form to express so homely a scene from everyday life. For although the painting has an air of utter naturalness, it has been meticulously composed . The play of movement and counter – movement and the careful pattering of colour declareDegas’ traditional ties and classical thoroughness.

c. 1884 - 1886