During Carnival 1872

Mary Cassatt, an American artist working in France, made this oil painting, "During Carnival," sometime in the late nineteenth century. Cassatt was deeply involved with the Impressionist circle, and here she explores themes of femininity and social interaction. The title suggests a festive atmosphere, yet the women appear reserved, perhaps even melancholic. The image prompts questions about the social roles available to women in that time and place. While male artists often depicted women as objects of the male gaze, Cassatt offers a different perspective, one that emphasizes the inner lives and relationships of women. Consider Cassatt's biography. As a woman artist in a male-dominated art world, her institutional position undoubtedly shaped her artistic choices. Looking at letters, diaries, and exhibition records from the time, we can better understand the social and cultural forces that influenced Cassatt's work. Art history reminds us that the meaning of art is always tied to its context.