The Letter 1890 - 1891

Mary Cassatt made this print, titled ‘The Letter’, using colored inks on paper. It's a tour-de-force of printmaking. She combined etching and aquatint - metal plate processes that allow for a range of linear and tonal effects. Look closely, and you’ll see how she has worked the surface to create a variety of textures, from the floral wallpaper to the woman's patterned dress. The print shows a woman absorbed in reading a letter, and the care that Cassatt took in making the image mirrors the intimate scene. Notice how the materiality of the print - its flatness and delicate color - echoes the private, domestic world it portrays. Cassatt’s engagement with printmaking, a medium often associated with reproduction and accessibility, challenges traditional notions of artistic value, inviting us to appreciate the skill and artistry involved in its making. This piece reminds us to consider the labor and processes behind the art we admire.