Artwork
Interior: On the Sofa
Interior: On the Sofa is an ink print by the Impressionist artist Mary Cassatt. It dates from 1883 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Interior: On the Sofa is a softground etching on wove paper created by Mary Cassatt around 1883. It is a print that captures a quiet, everyday moment.
Subject & Meaning
The etching depicts a woman seated on a sofa, holding a bundle or child close to her chest. The scene is set against the backdrop of a window showing a train passing over a bridge, suggesting a domestic setting influenced by the outside world.
Technique & Style
Cassatt employed a soft, smudgy style in Interior: On the Sofa, using the softground etching technique to achieve a loose, textured effect. The blending of ink creates deep shadows and varied textures, giving the impression of a spontaneous, unpolished moment.
Context
Mary Cassatt, an American artist who spent most of her life in France, was associated with the Impressionist movement and often explored themes related to the private lives of women, particularly the relationships between mothers and children.
Artist & collection
Artist
Mary Stevenson Cassatt (; May 22, 1844 – June 14, 1926) was an American painter and printmaker.
