Lot Essay
Much like his contemporary Edgar Degas, Dalou (d. 1902) was fascinated with the subject of the female nude and worked and re-worked a series of small models depicting women before and after bathing and in stages of undress. From 1907, the Hébrard foundry was permitted to cast certain of Dalou's works in limited editions, usually of ten, but sometimes in greater number. Further editions, numbered alphabetically, were produced for the more popular models. The 'A' edition letter and high numbering of the present fine bronze not only date it to the first edition, but also show that, as one of the popular models, it was cast in a greater number than the usual ten. A cast numbered (C.10) was sold Sotheby's, London, 12 June 2006, lot 31 (£13,200).