Etude pour ‘Le Bain’ ; Deux femmes et un enfant dans une barque 1910

Mary Cassatt made this watercolor study, “Etude pour ‘Le Bain’ ; Deux femmes et un enfant dans une barque”, as preparation for her famous painting “The Bath.” As a privileged American expatriate, Cassatt's focus on domestic scenes allowed her entry into Impressionist circles. Yet her positioning also offers insight into 19th-century gender roles. Cassatt exclusively painted women, often with children, navigating the constraints and expectations of their time. This piece is no different, depicting two women and a child in a boat, their expressions unreadable, their bodies blending together. Cassatt neither idealized nor sensationalized the female experience. Instead, her works communicate the everyday intimacy between women and children. The emotional resonance of her art lies in her ability to highlight the ordinary, suggesting the rich interior lives of her subjects. "Etude pour ‘Le Bain’ ; Deux femmes et un enfant dans une barque" quietly reflects the societal gaze on women, and the profound connections formed within their prescribed roles.