Mother and Child 1889

Mary Cassatt made this watercolor called 'Mother and Child', sometime near the end of the nineteenth century, in either France or the United States. Cassatt was an American artist who spent much of her career in France, exhibiting alongside the Impressionists. While her male colleagues depicted modern life in the streets and cafes of Paris, Cassatt focused on the domestic sphere, particularly images of mothers and children. Here we see a mother cradling her child. The composition is intimate, focusing on the tender bond between them. Cassatt's work challenged the traditional art world, which was dominated by men and often excluded women artists from positions of power. We see the changing status of women, particularly in the domestic space. Cassatt's focus on women and children reflects a growing interest in the lives and experiences of women in the late 19th century. To truly understand Cassatt’s painting, scholars often turn to sources like letters between artists, exhibition reviews, and other visual culture of the period.