In The Garden 1903

Mary Cassatt's In the Garden is a symphony in greens, pinks, and creams, conjuring up a moment of quiet reverie. I can almost feel the sun on my skin just looking at it! I wonder what it was like for Cassatt, setting up her easel amidst the blooms. The way the light catches the girl’s pink dress, those subtle brushstrokes – she must have been chasing after fleeting moments. The softness of the garden is beautifully evoked using thin layers of paint with visible brushwork. The older woman is turned away from us; a formal device that allows us to focus on the girl's gaze. It reminds me of Berthe Morisot’s intimate scenes of domestic life, but with a distinctly American sensibility. Painters are always looking at other painters, don't you think? It's like one long, ongoing conversation. We're all just borrowing and building, trying to make sense of the world one brushstroke at a time.