Mrs. Robert S. Cassatt (Katherine Kelson Johnston Cassatt) 1889

Mary Cassatt created this portrait of her sister-in-law using oil on canvas. Cassatt applied the paint with loose, visible brushstrokes, a hallmark of Impressionism, a movement known for its direct engagement with materials. What's also interesting is the texture. The swift application of the paint creates a sense of immediacy. The black of Mrs. Cassatt's dress is particularly telling. It almost appears sculpted rather than painted. This technique allowed Cassatt to capture the subtle shifts in light and shadow, lending a vivid, lifelike quality to the figure, and a sense of the fabric's weight. The shawl draped over her shoulders is similarly dynamic, as if it is captured in motion, its texture palpable. By engaging so directly with the materiality of paint, Cassatt blurred the boundaries between the act of painting and the creation of a tangible, almost sculptural presence. This approach encourages us to appreciate the labor and the choices inherent in the artistic process itself.