Philip Wilson Steer

Model Seated Before a Mirror

?1894

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Not on display

Artist: Philip Wilson Steer 1860–1942
Medium: Oil paint on canvas
Dimensions: Support: 918 x 508 mm
Collection: Tate
Acquisition: Accepted by HM Government in lieu of inheritance tax and allocated to Tate 2005
Reference: T11973

Display caption

In Britain, Steer pioneered the new French concept of painting naturalistic bedroom scenes of women dressing or washing. It was an approach derived from French artist Edgar Degas. This scene places the viewer in the role of voyeur, and the girl’s absorption in her reflection echoes our own consideration of her.Intimate scenes such as this were bitterly denounced by critics for indecency. In the background hangs a painting by English painter Walter Sickert, Steer’s artistic ally.

Gallery label, May 2007

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