Sketch of Antoinette (no.1) 1901

Mary Cassatt’s ‘Sketch of Antoinette’ is made with oil on canvas, and right away you can see it is all about brushstrokes. The way she suggests Antoinette’s hair with rapid strokes, its brown hues merging into the creamy background, makes me think about the sheer joy of painting. I imagine Cassatt, in her studio, quickly capturing a likeness, the pressure of time and the fleeting pose urging her on. And what about those strokes of olive green and gray? They feel bold, almost unfinished, but so full of life and energy. I love how Cassatt leaves certain areas like the shoulder and chest so open, bare. It's like she's saying, "Here's the essence, the rest is up to you." It makes me think of Manet, and the way he uses that kind of sketchy shorthand. There's a conversation between artists and across time, each inspiring the other to see the world anew. For me, this sketch is a reminder that painting is never just about depicting reality; it’s about seeing, feeling, and responding to it.