Artwork
The Fitting
The Fitting 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 Fitting* is a multicolor print by Mary Cassatt, combining drypoint, softground etching, and aquatint on laid paper.
Created in 1890, *The Fitting* is a multicolor print by Mary Cassatt, combining drypoint, softground etching, and aquatint on laid paper. It captures a quiet moment in a private interior, reflecting Cassatt’s sustained interest in the routines of women’s daily lives. As one of the few female artists associated with the Impressionists, she brought a distinct perspective to the movement through intimate, domestic subjects rendered with technical precision and emotional nuance.
Subject & Meaning
The scene depicts three women in a dressing room: one seated with her back turned, another adjusting a white gown before a mirror, and a third visible only as a reflection. The act of fitting clothing becomes a silent ritual, suggesting social expectation, personal identity, and the quiet labor of appearance. The absence of male figures and the focus on female interaction underscore Cassatt’s commitment to portraying women’s private worlds with dignity and subtlety.
Technique & Style
Cassatt employed layered printmaking methods to achieve tonal richness and delicate color gradations. Drypoint provided expressive, scratchy lines for fabric folds, while softground captured the texture of the wallpaper and soft edges of garments. Aquatint added subtle atmospheric depth, and the use of warm and cool inks mimicked natural light filtering through a window. The loose, spontaneous marks convey immediacy, as if the moment were observed and recorded in real time.
History & Provenance
Made during Cassatt’s most productive period in France, *The Fitting* was part of a series of prints she developed after being inspired by Japanese woodblock prints and encouraged by Edgar Degas. It was likely printed in a small edition, circulated among collectors and fellow artists. The work remained within European private collections until entering public institutional holdings in the 20th century, where it is now recognized as a key example of her printmaking innovation.
Context
In late 19th-century France, domestic interiors were a common subject among Impressionists, but few focused so consistently on women’s private spheres. Cassatt’s work diverged from public scenes of leisure favored by male peers, instead highlighting the quiet rituals of dressing, bathing, and caregiving. Her prints responded to both the aesthetic innovations of the Impressionist circle and the growing interest in printmaking as a serious artistic medium among avant-garde artists.
Legacy
Cassatt’s technical experimentation in *The Fitting* expanded the expressive potential of printmaking beyond reproductive functions. Her integration of color, texture, and intimate subject matter influenced later generations of women artists seeking to represent domestic life with complexity. The work remains a touchstone for understanding how printmaking could convey psychological depth and social observation without overt narrative.
Artist & collection
Artist
Mary Stevenson Cassatt (; May 22, 1844 – June 14, 1926) was an American painter and printmaker.
