Waiting 1879 - 1880

Mary Cassatt created this print, titled Waiting, using drypoint and aquatint. Cassatt, an American expatriate in Paris, often depicted women in domestic or social settings, offering a glimpse into the private lives of women in the late 19th century. But what kind of lives were these? Here, the woman’s posture suggests a sense of anticipation. Perhaps it speaks to the constraints and expectations placed upon women of her class. "I began to live," Cassatt once declared, and indeed her art became a means for her to actively engage with and comment on the gendered norms of her time. While seemingly traditional in its subject matter, this print subtly challenges prevailing representations, inviting us to consider the complexities of women’s experiences and identities. It speaks to the quiet moments of reflection and resilience within the domestic sphere.