The Gden Reading 1898

Mary Cassatt created "The Gden Reading," as part of her extensive body of work that often depicted the intimate lives of women in the late 19th century. Cassatt, an American expatriate, navigated the male-dominated art world of her time by focusing on domestic scenes. Here, we see two women and a child absorbed in a book, the very act of reading emphasizing both education and leisure, privileges often gendered and classed. Cassatt subtly challenges traditional roles through her sensitive portrayals. The figures aren't mere symbols of motherhood but are presented as individuals with their own thoughts and feelings, connected through shared experience. As Cassatt once noted, "I have touched hands. I have felt the simple, earthy goodness of these women." In her focus on the interior lives of women, Cassatt reflected and shaped societal perceptions, providing a nuanced view of their roles beyond societal expectations. She captured the quiet revolutions happening within the domestic sphere.