Woman in a bathroom combing her hair Félix Édouard Vallotton (1865-1925)

The composition presents a female figure within a confined, tiled space – a bathroom setting. The woman is nude and engaged in the act of combing her hair, her arms raised above her head, drawing attention to her back and shoulders. Her posture suggests a moment of quiet contemplation or routine.
The artist has rendered the scene with a deliberate flatness; perspective appears limited, contributing to a sense of immediacy and intimacy. The tiled walls are depicted in a simplified manner, their repetitive pattern creating a backdrop that emphasizes the figure’s isolation. A red-painted baseboard runs along the lower portion of the wall, contrasting sharply with the cool tones of the tiles and the pale skin of the woman.
The lighting is diffused, illuminating the body evenly without strong shadows. This contributes to a sense of vulnerability and openness. The artists brushwork appears direct and unrefined, lending an air of naturalism to the depiction.
Subtly, the setting implies domesticity and privacy – a space typically reserved for personal rituals. However, the woman’s nudity disrupts this expectation, introducing an element of voyeurism or exposure. The act of combing hair, a mundane gesture, becomes imbued with significance when presented in such a context. It could be interpreted as a symbol of self-care, vanity, or simply a moment of quiet reflection within a private sphere.
The overall effect is one of restrained observation; the artist seems less interested in idealizing the female form and more concerned with capturing a fleeting moment of everyday life – a glimpse into a personal space that simultaneously reveals and conceals.