Child with Bangs in a Blue Dress 1910

Mary Cassatt made this pastel drawing of a girl with bangs, sometime in the late nineteenth or early twentieth century, though there is no date recorded. Look at how Cassatt built up her image with layer upon layer of marks, with a freedom and looseness that feels so modern. What I love is how Cassatt handles the physicality of the pastel medium, with its soft, chalky texture, to convey the tenderness and vulnerability of childhood. The colours are muted and subtle, with a predominance of whites, pinks, and browns, creating a warm and intimate atmosphere. Notice how the pastel strokes are visible, allowing us to follow the artist's hand as she modeled the form, capturing a fleeting expression or gesture. See that confident stroke of white in the dress? It feels so alive! Cassatt’s style echoes the work of Edgar Degas, with its focus on everyday life and its exploration of the possibilities of pastel as a medium. This piece reminds us that art is an ongoing process of experimentation and discovery, where artists learn from each other and push the boundaries of their chosen medium.