Mother’s Kiss 1890 - 1891

Mary Cassatt made this print, Mother’s Kiss, by applying layers of color onto a metal plate, which was then pressed onto paper. The visible effect is delicate, almost like watercolor, with soft lines and muted tones, despite the demanding nature of the medium. Cassatt's process involved careful planning and skilled execution. She combined etching and aquatint, manipulating the plate to achieve subtle gradations of tone. The texture of the paper also plays a role, its slight roughness adding depth to the image. What is interesting, is that the impressionist Cassatt was inspired by Japanese woodblock prints. You can see this influence in the flat planes of color, the simplified forms, and the emphasis on domestic subjects. This print invites us to consider the relationship between art and craft, between the handmade and the mass-produced. By embracing printmaking, Cassatt democratized her art, making it accessible to a wider audience, blurring the boundaries of traditional art history.