Portrait of Madame Sisley 1873

Mary Cassatt painted this portrait of Madame Sisley with oil on canvas. The quick, visible brushstrokes are a hallmark of Impressionism. But the materiality goes deeper than this obvious point. Cassatt's loose application of paint, with its varied thickness and direction, emphasizes the physical qualities of the medium. The materiality speaks to a social context. Oil paint was a commercially produced substance, available ready-made in tubes thanks to industrial advances. This gave artists unprecedented freedom to paint ‘en plein air’, outside the studio. Also consider Cassatt’s direct, economical approach. She avoids laborious detail, capturing the essence of her subject with an immediacy that reflects modern life. This no-nonsense attitude extends to the social dimension too; Cassatt was unusual for depicting women as active agents, rather than passive objects. Ultimately, the painting's power lies in its ability to synthesize technique, material, and social context. It breaks down traditional hierarchies, elevating everyday subjects and experiences.