The Bath 1890 - 1891

Curator: Here we have Mary Cassatt’s print, "The Bath," created between 1890 and 1891. Editor: It feels remarkably tender. The composition is so intimate, the quiet focus on this everyday ritual… It's very moving. Curator: Cassatt was deeply invested in printmaking at this time, pushing the boundaries of color etching and aquatint. Note the flattened perspective, the bold outlines—all informed by her study of Japanese woodblock prints. It's fascinating how she merges these influences with Impressionist color sensibilities. Editor: Absolutely. It's also worth noting how Cassatt, as a woman artist in the late 19th century, chose to center her work on the domestic sphere, elevating the lives and labor of women. There’s an underlying political dimension there, right? Curator: Definitely. And look at how she utilizes color to differentiate textures and volumes. The fabric of the mother’s dress versus the smoothness of the child's skin, and even the materiality of the ceramic basin... Cassatt displays a remarkable understanding of her chosen media and its properties. Editor: It’s also interesting to consider this work within the broader context of representations of motherhood. While some portrayals sentimentalize motherhood, Cassatt depicts a very real, engaged, and reciprocal relationship between mother and child. It challenges idealized stereotypes and speaks to the lived realities of women. Curator: I find myself drawn to the mechanics of its production; each plate required immense technical skill, precision, and a deep engagement with materials. She's not merely depicting a scene, but engaging with the very possibilities of the etching medium itself. Editor: It’s also a very egalitarian presentation of maternal intimacy—offering an interesting contrast with male artists depicting the nude female figure in much more contrived and sexualized positions. It emphasizes the shared experience, offering us a fresh perspective through Cassatt’s very focused and determined female gaze. Curator: Well said. Ultimately, “The Bath” remains a potent example of Cassatt’s artistic ingenuity, a blending of influences and techniques that challenges our expectations of both printmaking and the depiction of domestic life. Editor: And through its sensitive portrayal of women and their relationships, this work extends a critical contribution to challenging societal assumptions on identity, gender, and labor.