Artwork
After-Dinner Coffee (recto); After-Dinner Coffee (verso)
After-Dinner Coffee (recto); After-Dinner Coffee (verso) is a drawing by the Impressionist artist Mary Cassatt. It dates from 1889 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
About this work
Overview
After-Dinner Coffee is a dual-sided drawing by Mary Cassatt, featuring a study for a softground etching with aquatint on one side (recto) and an alternate version on the reverse (verso). The work captures an intimate domestic scene of a woman enjoying coffee after dinner.
Subject & Meaning
The drawing depicts a solitary woman in formal attire sipping coffee in a softly lit interior, emphasizing the quiet, personal moments of domestic life—a characteristic focus of Cassatt's work, contrasting with the outdoor or café scenes typical of many Impressionists.
Technique & Style
Cassatt employed a innovative combination of techniques: the recto utilizes drypoint (scratching lines into a metal plate) for delicate, precise lines, overlaid with aquatint for tonal depth, while the verso explores an alternative approach with softground etching, achieving a spontaneous, sketch-like quality.
History & Provenance
Created in the context of Cassatt's increasing experimentation with printmaking in the late 1880s to early 1890s, After-Dinner Coffee was likely produced around the time of the Deuxième Exposition de Peintres-Graveurs (1890), where Cassatt showcased similar graphic works.
Context
This piece reflects Cassatt's contribution to the Impressionist movement's emphasis on modern life, as well as her unique perspective on intimate, indoor scenes of women's lives, distinguishing her from male Impressionist counterparts.
Legacy
After-Dinner Coffee contributes to Cassatt's recognized innovation in printmaking techniques within the Impressionist circle, influencing subsequent generations of artists exploring domestic themes and mixed media techniques.
Artist & collection
Artist
Mary Stevenson Cassatt (; May 22, 1844 – June 14, 1926) was an American painter and printmaker.
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