Young Girls 1897

Editor: So here we have Mary Cassatt’s “Young Girls,” created around 1897. It looks like a pastel on paper, and the first thing that strikes me is how incredibly soft and dreamy it feels. What do you make of this piece? Curator: Dreamy is such a perfect word! Cassatt really knew how to capture that fleeting, innocent quality of childhood, didn't she? I'm struck by the contrast in colors - that fiery red dress against the almost ethereal white one, with the soft green background. And the way they're nestled together... Do you feel that sense of intimacy, that almost secret world they seem to share? Editor: I do, absolutely. It’s like we’re intruding on a private moment. The one in red seems more self-assured, maybe even a bit mischievous? While the one in white has a more wistful, innocent expression. Curator: You've nailed it! I think that tension between personalities adds such depth. Look closely at their hands, intertwined. Cassatt doesn’t define the details; we’re left to imagine. Makes you wonder about their relationship, doesn’t it? Sisters, perhaps? Editor: Yes, that’s exactly the impression I get. This has such a different feel compared to some of her paintings of mothers and children, it’s much more...playful. Curator: Playful is a great insight. Maybe, by not portraying them with their mothers, Cassatt gives us a glimpse into the girls developing their own identities, their budding independence and connections. What do you think Cassatt is saying about girlhood, generally, in this portrait? Editor: It makes me think about how much importance Cassatt gives to the idea of connection between women at different stages of life, in painting after painting. I now also see the tension in Cassatt's choice of the subjects, at once public (showing their formal dresses and being well kept) while private (gestures such as how the arms embrace themselves or hold to the arms, create a close intimate sensation. Thank you for showing me that tension! Curator: My pleasure entirely! It is wonderful what you discover when you make room for new thoughts, no?