After-Dinner Coffee c. 1889

Mary Cassatt sketched this work of a woman in pencil. The muted tones and visible strokes evoke a sense of quiet introspection. The composition, dominated by the figure, is framed by the angular lines of the chair, creating a visual structure that is both intimate and formal. Cassatt destabilizes traditional portraiture with her use of line and form. The woman’s gaze is directed away from the viewer, inviting contemplation rather than direct engagement. The visible pencil strokes, a signature of Cassatt’s technique, highlight the materiality of the artwork. It draws attention to the artistic process, challenging the polished finish often associated with formal portraits. Notice the geometry of the chair juxtaposed with the soft curves of the woman’s dress. This contrast highlights the interplay between the constructed environment and the individual. Cassatt engages with the semiotic codes of her time. She does so by representing a modern woman in a moment of private reflection, disrupting conventional expectations of female representation.