While Degas did not do too much experimentation with subject, focusing work after work on the same subjects, he did experiment greatly with technique. Degas’ collection of paintings of bathing women was enormous. However, he also tried other ways, such as various printmaking methods, and combining pastel or crayon with the tempura paint in his works. As he began to lose his sight in the 1880s, pastels were increasingly used, as they were more forgiving than oil paints. His pastels are usually simple compositions containing one or two figures. For these works, he relied heavily on the gestures and vibrant colors rather than on careful detailing.
Sculpture was another thing that Degas was known for. And as his eyesight deteriorated, he displayed a strong shift towards wax sculptures. Wax allowed Degas to work mostly by touch and not have to rely so heavily on his poor eyesight. The subjects of these sculptures were the same as his other works, including dancers and female nudes. As in his paintings, he attempted to capture an instantaneous moment in the motion of the figures. He displayed the nude women in the same way as they were displayed in his paintings, in a sort of awkward pose that made to attempt to alter the exertions of any of his women.