Reine Lefebre and Margot before a Window 1902

Mary Cassatt painted Reine Lefebre and Margot before a Window with oil on canvas, and the brushstrokes are so visible, like she’s really feeling the paint as she builds up the image. The colors are so alive, it's like she's scooped them straight from a garden. Up close, you can almost feel the texture of the fabric, the warmth of the embrace. Look at the way the light catches the girl's cheek, this little patch of peachy pink amidst all the greens and reds. It’s amazing how a daub of color can bring a face to life. I love how Cassatt simplifies, but also brings such tenderness. Cassatt was clearly part of the Impressionist conversation. But her work, with its focus on intimate, domestic scenes, reminds me of Berthe Morisot. Both artists carve out this space for quiet observation and emotional depth in their paintings, that’s what makes them so timeless, don’t you think?