Artwork
Mimi Holding a Japanese Fan
Mimi Holding a Japanese Fan is an ink print by the Impressionist artist Mary Cassatt. It dates from 1889 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Created circa 1889, *Mimi Holding a Japanese Fan* is a dry‑point print on laid paper by Mary Cassatt, an American artist who spent most of her career in France. The work belongs to Cassatt’s extensive series of intimate domestic scenes, a subject she pursued throughout her association with the Impressionist circle.
Subject & Meaning
The image presents a young woman, her head turned slightly away, hair gathered back, holding a delicate Japanese fan. Her expression is composed and introspective, while the surrounding marks suggest a soft, draped fabric that frames her figure, emphasizing a quiet, private moment rather than a formal portrait.
Technique & Style
Cassatt employed the dry‑point method, incising lines directly into the paper with a sharp needle. This approach yields fine, velvety edges and a rich, tactile quality. The drawing combines swift, sketch‑like strokes with controlled detail, allowing the swirling background of lines and stippled dots to convey texture without overwhelming the central figure.
History & Provenance
The print emerged during Cassatt’s most productive period of printmaking, when she explored Japanese decorative motifs and the everyday lives of women. It was exhibited alongside other Impressionist works and later entered private collections, reflecting the artist’s sustained interest in portraying the nuanced interactions of modern domestic life.
Artist & collection
Artist
Mary Stevenson Cassatt (; May 22, 1844 – June 14, 1926) was an American painter and printmaker.
