Lilacs in a Window
A quiet moment of shared attention; small scale and delicate strokes.
Celebrating the Intimate Worlds of Mary Cassatt
Gentle, intimate scenes of family and childhood — a not-so quiet revolution in Impressionism.
Featured Paintings
A Woman and a Girl Driving (1881)
Oil on canvas — A revolutionary painting emphasizing the theme of female auntonomy in a male dominated society. Challenging the era's social constraints by highlighting upper-class women in a public space, engaging in a physical task that was seen as traditionally masculine.
Young Mother Sewing (1900)
Oil on Canvas — Portrays an intimate domestic scene showcasing the affectionate bond between a mother and her child, a theme Cassatt revisits frequently throughout her work. Exploring the private lives and intimate moments of mothers.
In the Loge (1879)
Oil on canvas — Also known as At the Opera, shows a woman actively engaged with the world around her at the theater, a modern departure from traditional female portraits and a key piece from the fourth Impressionist exhibition. Unlike Pierre Auguste renoir also depicitng a familiar subject in La Loge but his aproach differs with Cassatt's. as she paints her female subjects with a more active role, not conforming to the societies conceptions of the roles of woman at the time.
The Child’s Bath
Oil on canvas, 1893
One of Cassatt’s most intimate portrayals of mother and child — the composition highlights the tenderness of domestic routine and the dignity of everyday tasks. The close cropping and soft palette draws attention to gesture and texture. Mary Cassatt's attention to the nuances of mother-child relationships is evident in this work, showcasing her ability to capture both emotional depth and the beauty of the ordinary moments of motherhood.
Matrescence CollectionSelected Works
A small selection across themes of motherhoods intricacies, captures candids of domestic lives, and elegant portraiture.
La Toilette
An exploration of intimate, everyday ritual and modern femininity. Heavily influenced by Japanese colour woodblock prints.
Little Girl in a Blue Armchair
A bored young girl slumped in a large patterned fabric sofa, capturing a spontaneous and candid moment in a domestic setting.
The Boating Party
Features beautiful brushstroke work and measures nearly three by four feet, making it easily one of Cassatt's largest and most ambitious paintings.
Woman with a Pearl Necklace in a Loge
A portrait depicting a woman, it's likely to have been her sister, Lydia, that studies posture and expression with Impressionist light.
Painting: Portait of Madame X Dressed for the Matinee
This portrait is known for assertively representing female independnce and complexity. The identity of the woman is unknown, leading to her nickname, Madame X.
Francoise Holding a Little Dog
An Impressionistic pastel portrait of a young girl, Francoise, cradling a small dog. This painting is one of many of Francoise focusing back on maternity and the private lives of women.
The Sisters
Impressionist portrait of two small girls in a close embrace, a delicate interplay of gaze and gesture emphasizing familial bonds all in a harmonious composition.
Young Girls
The pastel Cassat used in depicting these two girls provides a softness and spontaneity suitable for capturing their delicate features amd lively personalities.