Girl In Large Hat 1908

Mary Cassatt made this painting of a girl in a large hat, probably sometime in the late 19th century. It’s not about perfection, it's about the process of seeing and feeling. Look at the surface! The paint is laid on with clear, joyous strokes. You can almost feel the pressure of her hand, the way she loaded the brush and let it glide across the canvas. And that hat, that glorious, ridiculous hat. It's not just yellow; it's a riot of yellows, ochres, and browns, all dancing together in the light. See how the brushstrokes follow the form, building up volume and texture? It’s like she's sculpting with paint. And then those flowers perched on top, little dabs of red and white, adding a touch of whimsy. Cassatt, like Degas, knew how to make the ordinary extraordinary. There’s a conversation happening with Manet and Monet. Art isn't about answers; it's about questions, about seeing the world in new and unexpected ways.