Sara Looking towards the Right 1901

Curator: This is Mary Cassatt’s “Sara Looking towards the Right,” a pastel and charcoal drawing made around 1901. What do you think when you see it? Editor: It feels so fleeting. Like catching a moment of childhood on the wing. The soft colors and sketchy lines make her seem both present and a little bit like a memory already. Curator: I’m drawn to the girl's gaze. Even at such a young age, you see a clear intention. Look at the historical use of portraits in Cassatt's era. Sara's direct look challenges the passivity usually assigned to children, and especially to girls, within that specific social context. Editor: That’s true. There’s definitely a thoughtfulness in her eyes, a sort of…knowing? I keep thinking about what it’s like to be captured like that, as a kid. Vulnerable, but also powerfully oneself. The blue bow, in an otherwise fairly neutral palette, feels very significant as if anchoring the whole composition. Curator: Consider the domestic symbolism. Mary Cassatt consistently depicted the domestic space, challenging conventional symbols of womanhood prevalent during the 19th century. The fact that Sarah looks directly, instead of conforming to expected coyness, is a bold statement on the autonomy of girls and women. Editor: I also love how the background almost blends with her. Is it indoors or out? Garden? Wallpaper? The ambiguity almost elevates Sara's image to a symbol. She is all children. Curator: Exactly. Through Cassatt's unique lens, conventional portrayals of women are turned into something much more potent and individualistic. Editor: I agree. It makes me think of how we are constantly constructing and reading symbols, layering meaning onto these images… it's a continuous process. Curator: Yes, seeing how we're perpetually reshaping the past in order to mirror present perspectives. Editor: Beautiful, poignant stuff! Curator: A fine, relevant perspective!