Who painted The Bath?

The Bath was painted by Mary Cassatt in 1890.

Where can I see The Bath?

The Bath is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is The Bath?

The Bath is associated with Impressionism.

Artwork

The Bath

Mary Cassatt , 1890

The Bath is an ink print by the Impressionist artist Mary Cassatt. It dates from 1890 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

Created in 1890, *The Bath* is a color print that combines drypoint, soft‑ground etching, and aquatint on laid paper. The composition shows a mother kneeling beside a bathtub, attentively washing a young child. Rendered in subdued hues, the work captures a quiet domestic moment with a restrained palette, the mother’s yellow dress offering a modest visual accent.

Subject & Meaning

The image focuses on an intimate, everyday ritual: a mother bathing her child. By portraying the tender interaction, the print underscores the close bonds within the private sphere of family life. The careful attention to gesture and posture conveys a sense of care and routine, reflecting the artist’s interest in the lived experiences of women.

Technique & Style

Cassatt employed a combination of drypoint, soft‑ground etching, and aquatint, allowing for both delicate line work and soft tonal areas. The soft‑ground method captures the gentle contours of the figures, while aquatint provides muted washes that model light and shadow. This layered approach yields a nuanced surface that balances line and tone, characteristic of her printmaking practice.

History & Provenance

An American expatriate working in France, Cassatt produced *The Bath* during her mature period, when she was closely linked to the Impressionist circle and maintained a friendship with Edgar Degas. The print was issued as part of her series exploring mother‑child relationships, a recurring theme in her oeuvre, and has since been held in several public collections specializing in 19th‑century prints.