The Bonnet c. 1891

Mary Cassatt created this print called The Bonnet using drypoint and aquatint. The print depicts a woman holding a mirror. Cassatt was an American artist who lived much of her adult life in France, and exhibited with the Impressionists. The Impressionists sought to represent modern life. Cassatt often focused on the domestic and social lives of women. However, she challenged traditional roles, depicting women as active and engaged. The woman looking in the mirror suggests the importance of appearance and self-awareness in the lives of women in late 19th century France. To fully understand a work like this, we can consult primary source documents such as letters and exhibition reviews to gain a deeper appreciation of its historical significance. Art is always contingent on social and institutional context.