Mother Marie Dressing Her Baby c. 1890

Editor: This delicate print, "Mother Marie Dressing Her Baby," by Mary Cassatt captures an intimate moment. The sketched lines give it a feeling of immediacy. What symbols do you see in this work? Curator: Notice how the mother and child are framed; this enfolding echoes the Madonna and Child. This links earthly love to something sacred, doesn't it? The soft lines and gentle composition amplify this symbolism. Editor: So, the visual language connects the everyday with something more profound? Curator: Precisely. Cassatt elevates the mundane to the iconic through her skillful deployment of symbols. What a poignant portrayal of maternal love! Editor: I never considered those symbols before. Thank you for expanding my understanding of Cassatt's work.