Brothel Scene (1877)
Though often grouped with the Impressionists, Degas had a gritty Realist streak that shines in this scandalous two-panel sketch of a Parisian brothel. On the left, a mustachioed man in a military jacket lounges back with a drink, looking thoroughly relaxed, while on the right, a quiet conversation unfolds between a couple as a bored woman stands by with her arms crossed. Degas wanted to show people in their most unguarded moments, stripping away any glamour to reveal the awkward, mundane reality of these spaces. The quick, nervous lines make it feel like a secret spy sketch, capturing a candid scene far removed from his famous, polished ballerinas.
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