# Woman Leaning on an Elbow beside a Vase of Flowers [View the canonical artwork record]() ## Artwork - Artist: [DEGAS, Edgar]() - Date: 1851-1900 - Technique: Oil on canvas, 74 x 93 cm ## Commentary Degas abandoned historical subjects in favour of close observation of modern life. In Woman Leaning on an Elbow beside a Vase of Flowers he introduces the viewer into a typical middle-class home in the country, possibly that of his friends the Valpinçons in southern Normandy. His model is relaxing informally after gathering this large bouquet in her garden, the gloves that protected her hands from scratches now carelessly laid on the table beside the water jug. The woman depicted is probably Madame Paul Valpinçon. The painting was preceded by a <a onclick="return OpenOther\('/html/d/degas/7/graphi07.html'\)" href="/html/d/degas/7/graphi07.html">pencil drawing</a> of the woman, also dated 1865. This painting is incorrectly referred to as Woman with Chrysanthemums. ## Related artworks - [A Ballet Dancer in Position]() - [Absinthe Drinkers]() - [After the Bath]() - [After the Bath. Woman Drying Herself]() - [At the Beach]() - [At the Café des Ambassadeurs]() - [At the Milliner's]() - [At the Milliner's]() - [At the Mirror]() - [At the Races in the Countryside]() - [Aux Ambassadeurs: Mademoiselle Bécat]() - [Ballerina with a Bouquet, Curtsying]() ## Attribution [Web Gallery of Art]()