Who painted Mimi as a Brunette?

Mimi as a Brunette was painted by Mary Cassatt in 1889.

Where can I see Mimi as a Brunette?

Mimi as a Brunette is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is Mimi as a Brunette?

Mimi as a Brunette is associated with Impressionism.

Can I buy a print of Mimi as a Brunette?

Museum-quality prints of Mimi as a Brunette are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

Artwork

Mimi as a Brunette

Mary Cassatt , 1889

Mimi as a Brunette is an ink print by the Impressionist artist Mary Cassatt. It dates from 1889 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

Inscription: Inscribed:recto: in composition, at lower right in graphite: Mary Cassatt; at bottom left in graphite in later hand: no 7664; at bottom right in graphite in later hand: Jeune fille à table R. H.; verso: at lower left in graphite in later hand: Hartshorne 24; at lower center in graphite in later hand: A78292; at lower right in graphite in later hand: WO xv [?] 301
Markings: Marked:recto: Roger Marx (Lugt 2229); verso: Robert Hartshorne (Lugt 2215b) and National Gallery of Art

About this work

Overview

Created circa 1889, Mimi as a Brunette is a dry‑point drawing on laid paper by Mary Cassatt. The work captures a momentary pose of a woman seated, her arm resting on a chair back, hair pulled back, and gaze directed away from the viewer. The composition is rendered with swift, gestural lines that vary between loosely sketched areas and more sharply defined sections.

Subject & Meaning

The figure represents a domestic scene, a recurring theme in Cassatt’s oeuvre that explores everyday moments in women’s lives. By depicting the sitter in a relaxed, introspective posture, the image hints at the private, unguarded aspects of female experience, aligning with Cassatt’s broader interest in the nuanced relationships within the home.

Technique & Style

Cassett employed dry‑point, incising the image directly into the paper surface with a metal needle. This method yields characteristic ragged, velvety lines that convey immediacy and texture. The drawing’s loose, rapid strokes suggest a study rather than a finished piece, emphasizing expressive gesture over meticulous finish.

History & Provenance

An American expatriate in late‑19th‑century Paris, Cassatt moved within the circle of Edgar Degas and participated in several Impressionist exhibitions. Mimi as a Brunette reflects the period’s collaborative atmosphere and Cassatt’s position as a leading figure among the expatriate artists who brought American perspectives to the French avant‑garde.