The Bath 1890 - 1891

Mary Cassatt’s "The Bath" presents a tender domestic scene through delicate lines and soft colours. The composition is structured around the curves of the mother and child, set against a flat, neutral backdrop. The yellow of the mother’s dress and the blue of the basin create a gentle harmony, evoking warmth and intimacy. Cassatt, influenced by Japanese woodblock prints, flattens the perspective, emphasizing surface patterns. The use of line is particularly striking: it defines form, yet remains subtle, suggesting a sense of quiet observation. Semiotically, the bath can be seen as a signifier of purity and care, but Cassatt disrupts traditional connotations. The focus isn't on idealized beauty, but on the everyday act of motherly care. The artwork invites us to reconsider the established meanings around domestic life. The interplay of line and colour in "The Bath" functions not just aesthetically but also as a commentary on the value and complexity of women’s experiences.