Artwork
Mary Cassatt at the Louvre: The Paintings Gallery
Mary Cassatt at the Louvre: The Paintings Gallery is an ink print by the Impressionist artist Edgar Degas. It dates from 1880 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Mary Cassatt at the Louvre: The Paintings Gallery is a 1880 print by Edgar Degas, combining etching, soft-ground etching, aquatint, and drypoint on wove paper. The piece captures a contemplative moment of the American Impressionist Mary Cassatt immersed in the Louvre’s painting gallery.
Subject & Meaning
The print portrays Mary Cassatt standing alone, absorbed in the artwork surrounding her, conveying a sense of introspection within a potentially bustling public space. This depiction highlights the shared artistic interests of the two subjects and possibly their mutual appreciation for European art.
Technique & Style
Degas employed a multi-technique approach, layering etching for defined lines, soft-ground etching for subtle textures, aquatint for tonal variations, and drypoint for expressive marks. This technical diversity showcases Degas’s mastery of printmaking and his ability to achieve complex visual depth.
History & Provenance
Created in 1880, this print exemplifies Degas’s period of intense experimentation with printmaking techniques. While specific provenance details are not provided, the work is characteristic of his output during this time, reflecting his engagement with contemporary artistic circles in Paris.
Context
This work sits at the intersection of Degas’s fascination with interior scenes and his exploration of the lives of modern women, themes common in Impressionist and Realist art. The Louvre setting adds a layer of cultural and artistic reverence.
Artist & collection
Artist
Born Hilaire-Germain-Edgar De Gas on 19 July 1834 in Paris, Edgar Degas came from an affluent banking family with aristocratic roots and spent his childhood among the cultivated circles of the French capital.
