Artwork
The Coiffure
The Coiffure 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
This work exemplifies her commitment to depicting private, everyday moments of women’s lives, rendered with technical innovation and quiet sensitivity.
Created in 1890, *The Coiffure* is a color print by Mary Cassatt, combining drypoint, softground etching, and aquatint on laid paper. As an American artist living in France, Cassatt engaged deeply with the Impressionist circle, particularly through her friendship with Degas. This work exemplifies her commitment to depicting private, everyday moments of women’s lives, rendered with technical innovation and quiet sensitivity.
Subject & Meaning
The scene captures a woman seated before a mirror, engaged in the act of combing her hair. Her back faces the viewer, while her reflection reveals her upper body, creating a layered sense of intimacy. The act of grooming is portrayed not as performance but as a solitary, unguarded ritual. The composition invites contemplation of personal routine, emphasizing dignity in the mundane without sentimentality.
Technique & Style
Cassatt employed multiple printmaking methods to achieve subtle tonal variations and delicate color layering. Drypoint provided fine, expressive lines, softground etching captured the texture of fabric and wallpaper, and aquatint added soft washes of color. The palette—soft pinks, creams, and muted reds—enhances the warmth of the scene, while the flattened perspective and emphasis on pattern reflect Japanese woodblock influences.
History & Provenance
Produced during Cassatt’s most active period in printmaking, *The Coiffure* was part of a series exploring domestic interiors and female subjects. It was likely printed in a small edition, typical of her experimental approach. The work entered public collections in the early 20th century, where it became recognized for its technical sophistication and quiet psychological depth.
Context
In late 19th-century France, Cassatt’s focus on women’s private spheres stood apart from dominant historical or mythological themes. Her prints responded to both Impressionist interests in modern life and the rising interest in Japanese art, which emphasized composition and everyday subjects. *The Coiffure* reflects a broader cultural shift toward valuing intimate, non-narrative moments in art.
Legacy
Cassatt’s integration of printmaking techniques into intimate domestic scenes expanded the possibilities of the medium beyond reproduction. *The Coiffure* influenced later artists interested in gendered space and the aesthetics of quietude. Its restrained palette and focus on interiority remain a touchstone for discussions of female subjectivity in modern printmaking.
Artist & collection
Artist
Mary Stevenson Cassatt (; May 22, 1844 – June 14, 1926) was an American painter and printmaker.
