Who painted The Fitting [recto]?

The Fitting [recto] was painted by Mary Cassatt in 1890.

Where can I see The Fitting [recto]?

The Fitting [recto] is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is The Fitting [recto]?

The Fitting [recto] is associated with Impressionism.

Artwork

The Fitting [recto]

Mary Cassatt , 1890

The Fitting [recto] is a chalk drawing by the Impressionist artist Mary Cassatt. It dates from 1890 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art. Created in 1890, *The Fitting* is a drawing executed in graphite over black chalk on wove paper.

About this work

Overview

Created in 1890, *The Fitting* is a drawing executed in graphite over black chalk on wove paper. Mary Cassatt, an American artist living in France, produced the work during her long association with the Impressionist circle, where she regularly exhibited alongside peers such as Edgar Degas.

Subject & Meaning

The composition captures a quiet moment of a woman assisting a child with a clothing fitting. The figure stands before a mirror, her reflection visible, emphasizing the intimate, domestic ritual of dress and the subtle interaction between mother and child.

Technique & Style

Cassatt employs a restrained palette of graphite and charcoal, using chiaroscuro to model forms and suggest depth within the dimly lit interior. The delicate handling of line and shading creates texture in the fabric and soft shadows on the walls, hallmarks of her observational approach.

History & Provenance

The drawing was produced during Cassatt’s most active period with the Impressionists, a time when she regularly showed work in their exhibitions. It remains documented as part of her oeuvre of domestic scenes, reflecting her focus on everyday life in the late nineteenth century.

Context

*The Fitting* aligns with the Impressionist interest in contemporary, fleeting moments, yet it retains Cassatt’s particular concern for the private sphere of women and children. The work illustrates how the movement’s visual language could be applied to intimate, interior subjects.