Artwork
The Picture Book (No. 1)
The Picture Book (No. 1) is a graphite drawing by Mary Cassatt. It dates from 1901 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art. The Picture Book (No.
About this work
Overview
The Picture Book (No. 1) is a graphite drawing on wove paper created by Mary Cassatt around 1901. Characteristic of her work, it captures an intimate domestic moment.
Subject & Meaning
The drawing depicts a tender scene of a woman and a child engaged with a book, emphasizing the close relationship between them. This subject aligns with Cassatt's thematic focus on the private lives and emotional bonds of women and children.
Technique & Style
Executed in loose, quick graphite lines with soft shading, the sketch eschews hard edges and detailed rendering, leaving some areas minimally defined. This approach suggests a rapid study rather than a finished work.
History & Provenance
Created during Cassatt's association with the Impressionist movement in France, this work reflects her connections with the group, notably Edgar Degas, despite her American origins.
Context
Within Cassatt's oeuvre, The Picture Book (No. 1) sits alongside numerous works exploring mother-child relationships, a theme for which she is renowned.
Artist & collection
Artist
Mary Stevenson Cassatt (; May 22, 1844 – June 14, 1926) was an American painter and printmaker.
The Crocheting Lesson
Repose
Reine and Margot Seated on a Sofa (No. 2)
Margot Leaning against Reine's Knee
The Caress
Anne and Her Mother
The Drawing Lesson (Berthe Morisot Drawing with Her Daughter)
Quietude
The Mirror
The Drawing Lesson (Berthe Morisot and her Daughter Julie Manet)
Mother and Child, No. 1
The Picture Book (No. 1)