Artwork
Confidences, from A New Sentimental Education
Confidences, from A New Sentimental Education is a print by Charles Maurin. It dates from 1901 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
About this work
Overview
“Confidences, from A New Sentimental Education” is a color intaglio print created by French artist Charles Maurin in 1901. The work belongs to a later suite of prints that explore intimate domestic scenes, focusing on a mother and child sharing a quiet moment on a sun‑lit porch.
Subject & Meaning
The image captures a mother leaning toward her young daughter, who holds a small book and looks up attentively. The composition emphasizes the close, whispered communication between the two, highlighting the tenderness of everyday maternal care.
Technique & Style
Maurin employed color intaglio, a method that allowed him to layer pigments and achieve subtle tonal variations. His approach shows the influence of Mary Cassatt’s color prints, yet he differentiates his work by surrounding the figures with detailed domestic objects rather than the more abstracted treatment seen in Cassatt’s drypoints.
History & Provenance
Maurin’s first color intaglio prints appeared contemporaneously with Cassatt’s celebrated series of ten color prints. Following those early experiments, he produced two suites—*A Sentimental Education* (1897) and *A New Sentimental Education* (1901). The Cleveland Museum of Art currently holds this particular print.
Context
The turn of the twentieth century saw a growing interest among artists in depicting private, everyday moments, especially those involving women and children. Maurin’s prints reflect this trend, aligning with broader Symbolist and Impressionist concerns about the emotional resonance of ordinary life.
Artist & collection
