Degas's pastel Waiting (L'Attente) is an extraordinary object in its craftsmanship and color, as well as in the emotional pull it exerts upon the viewer. But in addition to these, which we expect from a great work of art, Waiting also has an aura of ambiguity and even mystery. This study look at both its aesthetic qualities and the deeper questions that it arouses. Part of the Getty Museum Studies on Art series, the book offers a detailed discussion of Degas's pastel as well as an analysis of the broader context in which the work was created.