Margot in a Floppy Bonnet Leaning against a Chair c. 1902

Mary Cassatt made this etching of Margot, with her floppy bonnet, sometime in the late 19th century. Look at the magic she makes with a simple line. It’s all about process, watching an image emerge through careful labor. The texture, the surface—it's all about the push and pull of the etching needle across the plate. There’s a real physicality to it. The lines are thin and delicate, almost transparent, but they build up to create depth and form. Focus on Margot’s face. See how Cassatt uses these subtle lines to capture her expression? It’s like she’s caught between childhood and something more, a sense of knowing. You could say that Degas influenced Cassatt. Both shared a fascination with everyday life, but Cassatt brings her own unique touch. It’s this ongoing conversation, this exchange of ideas, that makes art so endlessly fascinating. It embraces ambiguity, it invites interpretation.