Little Girl in a Blue Armchair 1878

Mary Cassatt, an American artist who spent most of her adult life in France, painted "Little Girl in a Blue Armchair". Cassatt was part of the Impressionist movement, yet her position as a woman shaped her perspective. Unlike her male peers, she often focused on domestic scenes and the lives of women and children, reflecting her own experiences and the social constraints placed upon women at the time. Here, we see a young girl lounging in an overstuffed armchair, her posture suggesting a mix of boredom and independence. Notice the way Cassatt captures her individuality rather than idealizing her. The child seems to occupy a space between childhood innocence and the cusp of adulthood. In her choice to depict the realities of girlhood rather than sentimentalized versions, Cassatt challenges traditional representations of women and children in art. Through her intimate portrayals, Cassatt offers a window into the complex lives and emotional worlds of women and girls during the late 19th century.