Nagels knippen c. 1904

This subtle etching, Nagels knippen, was made by Mary Cassatt, and it lives at the Rijksmuseum. It depicts a mother attending to her child's nails. Imagine the artist, perhaps in a quiet room, delicately maneuvering her tools to capture this intimate scene. I wonder what Cassatt was thinking as she etched these lines? Her vision unfolds through a sparse and delicate style where each mark feels intentional, revealing the tender relationship between mother and child. I love the way that the minimal shading gives the scene a timeless quality, as if pulled from memory. The focused gaze of the mother anchors the composition, drawing us into their private world. This piece reminds me of other artists, like Paula Rego, who also explored the intricacies of domestic life. There's a quiet conversation happening here, across time and mediums, about the beauty and complexity of everyday moments. Isn't it amazing how a simple gesture, captured in ink, can speak volumes about love and care?