Heads of Leontine and a Friend 1898

Mary Cassatt rendered "Heads of Leontine and a Friend" in pastel, a medium that lends itself to capturing fleeting impressions. Here, the gaze of the sitters holds particular weight. Observe how the eyes, windows to the soul, direct our reading of the image. In both figures, there is a slight upward tilt of the head and eyes, embodying a sense of youthful hope and anticipation. It's a gesture that echoes across centuries. Think of Renaissance portraits where subjects look towards the heavens, or even ancient Roman busts capturing a similar upward gaze, signifying ambition. This enduring motif speaks to our collective consciousness, where the act of looking up symbolizes aspiration, and the very human desire to seek something beyond our immediate reality. Cassatt uses this simple gesture to engage us on a subconscious level, evoking feelings of longing and the pursuit of dreams. The emotional power of the image lies in this recognition—a shared human experience passed down through history.