A monotype is made by drawing in printing ink on a smooth surface, covering it with a sheet of paper while the ink is still wet, and passing it through the press. Degas brought the technique to the attention of the Parisian public when he showed a group of pastel-over-monotype works in the third Impressionist exhibition (1877). He became enamored of the process, applying it to hundreds of images of bathers and brothel scenes. Degas loved the fluidity and spontaneity of monotype, which required quick execution before the ink dried on the plate. He used a variety of techniques to produce this monotype of a woman primping at a three-section mirror, including painting with a brush, smearing and dabbing the ink with a rag or soft gauze, and modeling it with the tip of his finger. After the impression was pulled, he touched up the printed image with brush and ink to add bows on the wrist and elbow, and the hint of a garment at the upper left.