Artwork
The Corner of the Sofa (No. 3)
The Corner of the Sofa (No. 3) is an ink print by the Impressionist artist Mary Cassatt. It dates from 1879 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art. Created around 1879, *The Corner of the Sofa (No.
About this work
Overview
This work belongs to a series examining quiet domestic life, reflecting her interest in the private routines of women and children within the home.
Created around 1879, *The Corner of the Sofa (No. 3)* is a print by Mary Cassatt, executed in softground etching and aquatint. As an American artist living in France, Cassatt aligned herself with the Impressionists, particularly through her friendship with Edgar Degas. This work belongs to a series examining quiet domestic life, reflecting her interest in the private routines of women and children within the home.
Subject & Meaning
The image depicts a woman seated on a sofa, her back turned to the viewer, face unseen. Her posture suggests introspection, a moment suspended between action and thought. Cassatt avoids narrative clarity, instead inviting contemplation of inner life. The absence of facial expression emphasizes emotional subtlety, transforming an ordinary scene into a meditation on solitude and quietude within the domestic sphere.
Technique & Style
Cassatt employed softground etching to capture delicate textures, such as fabric and skin, while aquatint provided subtle tonal gradations. The palette is restrained, dominated by muted earth tones and soft shadows. Lines are minimal and fluid, avoiding detail in favor of atmosphere. The composition’s intimacy is heightened by the cropped view and the figure’s isolation within the frame, reinforcing the quiet, unposed nature of the moment.
History & Provenance
The print was produced during Cassatt’s most active period in printmaking, following her involvement with the Impressionist exhibitions of the late 1870s. It was likely part of a small edition, circulated among collectors and artists sympathetic to the movement. While specific early ownership records are sparse, the work’s inclusion in major museum collections today underscores its enduring significance within her graphic oeuvre.
Context
In late 19th-century France, depictions of women’s private lives were often idealized or sentimentalized. Cassatt’s approach diverged by presenting these moments without drama or moralizing. Her focus on unguarded, unposed figures aligned with broader Impressionist interests in modern life, yet her subject matter remained distinctly centered on the female experience, offering a quiet counterpoint to male-dominated portrayals of domesticity.
Legacy
Cassatt’s prints, including this one, expanded the possibilities of etching as a medium for intimate, modern expression. Her influence extended to later generations of artists interested in psychological depth and everyday subject matter. Though not widely publicized in her lifetime, her graphic works are now recognized for their sensitivity and technical innovation, securing her place in the history of printmaking.
Artist & collection
Artist
Mary Stevenson Cassatt (; May 22, 1844 – June 14, 1926) was an American painter and printmaker.
