Why were Edgar Degas’s paintings of women bathing controversial?

Edgar Degas’s paintings of women bathing, particularly those featured in the 1886 Impressionist exhibition, were controversial because they departed from the romanticized, idealized depictions of the female body common at the time. Instead, Degas presented "truthful" portrayals of women in highly intimate, private moments, such as bathing or drying themselves.12

These works drew criticism for several reasons:

• Perceived Vulgarity and Voyeurism: Some contemporary critics viewed the poses as vulgar and voyeuristic, finding the unvarnished observation of private acts unsettling.12
• Association with Prostitution: Because Degas had previously depicted subjects like brothels, some critics assumed the models in his bathing scenes were prostitutes, leading to accusations of prurience.23
• Unorthodox Composition: Degas utilized strange perspectives, chopped-off compositions, and unorthodox viewpoints—inspired by Japanese prints—which challenged traditional aesthetic expectations.1

While some critics labeled the figures as animal-like, others noted that the poses were actually rooted in classical sculpture, such as the "crouching Aphrodite," blending modern realism with traditional artistic training.12