Artwork
A Child's Bath
A Child's Bath is an oil painting by Mary Cassatt. It dates from 1890 and is held in the collection of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1890, *A Child’s Bath* is an oil painting by Mary Cassatt, an American artist who spent much of her career in France. The work depicts a mother‑figure bathing a young child in a domestic interior, emphasizing the quiet intimacy of everyday life. It belongs to the collection of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art.
Subject & Meaning
The composition centers on a woman cradling a child while pouring water from a basin, highlighting the nurturing bond between caregiver and infant. Both figures are dressed in white, reinforcing a sense of purity and tenderness. The subdued background recedes, directing the viewer’s attention to the act of care itself.
Technique & Style
Cassatt employs loose, expressive brushwork characteristic of late‑Impressionist practice, allowing light and color to suggest form rather than define it rigidly. Soft, muted tones dominate the setting, while subtle contrasts of light on the figures create a gentle three‑dimensionality, conveying both immediacy and emotional depth.
History & Provenance
After its exhibition with the Impressionists, the painting entered the Los Angeles County Museum of Art’s holdings, where it remains on view. Cassatt’s association with artists such as Edgar Degas facilitated the work’s early exposure within the Impressionist circle.
Context
Cassatt’s oeuvre frequently explored private moments of women and children, reflecting her interest in the social roles of women in the late nineteenth century. *A Child’s Bath* aligns with this focus, offering a quiet counterpoint to the more public scenes favored by many of her contemporaries.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Mary Stevenson Cassatt (; May 22, 1844 – June 14, 1926) was an American painter and printmaker.
