Maternal Caress 1890 - 1891

Mary Cassatt made this color print, Maternal Caress, with etching and aquatint techniques. The image is built up of multiple layers of ink on paper, each applied from a separate plate. Cassatt was an American artist working in France, and she was deeply influenced by Japanese prints, which were all the rage among Impressionist artists. You can see that influence here, in the flat planes of color, and the emphasis on line. But she transformed it with her own aesthetic. Look closely, and you can see the many tiny dots that make up the image. This is the aquatint process at work. The plate is treated with resin, which resists the acid, leaving these tiny islands of metal exposed to the bite. This creates a soft, textured effect – almost like a watercolor painting. It’s a laborious process, demanding great skill. Cassatt made many images of women and children. Through printmaking, she transformed an everyday scene into a sophisticated work of art. It reminds us that so-called ‘domestic crafts’ can be elevated through artistry and technique.