Artwork
Peasant Mother and Child
Peasant Mother and Child is an ink print by the Impressionist artist Mary Cassatt. It dates from 1894 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Created circa 1894, *Peasant Mother and Child* is a color drypoint and aquatint print by Mary Cassatt. The work depicts a rural mother seated with her infant, the child looking up at her face while she holds him close. Soft, muted background tones frame the warm hues of their simple clothing, emphasizing the quiet intimacy of the scene.
Subject & Meaning
The image focuses on the everyday bond between a mother and her child, a theme Cassatt explored throughout her career. By portraying a modest peasant family, the print underscores the universal nature of maternal affection, presenting it as a tender, private moment rather than a grand narrative.
Technique & Style
Cassatt employed drypoint to incise fine lines and aquatint to achieve broad, tonal washes, allowing subtle gradations of color. This combination yields a delicate balance of line and shade, characteristic of her modern, observational approach that blends Impressionist sensibilities with printmaking precision.
History & Provenance
An American expatriate working in France, Cassatt was closely linked to the Impressionist circle, exhibiting with its members after forming a friendship with Edgar Degas. *Peasant Mother and Child* reflects her mature period in the 1890s, when she increasingly turned to print media to disseminate her intimate domestic subjects.
Context
During the late 19th century, Cassatt’s focus on women’s private lives contrasted with the era’s dominant historical and mythological subjects. This print aligns with her broader effort to elevate everyday female experiences, contributing to a shift in how domestic scenes were represented in modern art.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Mary Stevenson Cassatt (; May 22, 1844 – June 14, 1926) was an American painter and printmaker.
