1882
ink
paper
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Before the Fireplace (No. 1) is a 1882 ink by Mary Cassatt, a Impressionism work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This sketch shows a woman sitting on a couch, wrapped in a blanket, with her legs tucked under her. Behind her, a fireplace with a mantle holds a few small framed pictures. The room looks simple, with a window dressed in heavy curtains and a dark, carved armchair in the corner. The artist used loose, sketchy lines to show the woman’s relaxed pose and the soft folds of her clothes. The dark tones and rough texture make it feel like a quick, honest moment rather than a polished scene. Next, look up etching to see how this technique works.
Mary Stevenson Cassatt (; May 22, 1844 – June 14, 1926) was an American painter and printmaker.
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