Artwork
Mother's Kiss
Mother's Kiss is an ink print by the Impressionist artist Mary Cassatt. It dates from 1890 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
- Inscription
- Inscribed:recto: at lower right in graphite: Edition de 25 épreuves Imprimée par l'artiste et M. Leroy / Mary Cassatt; at lower left in graphite in later hand: E.958 set of 10 - R3; verso: at lower left in graphite in later hand: B-22-322
- Markings
- Marked:recto: Mary Cassatt (Lugt 604); verso: National Gallery of Art (Lugt 1932d)
About this work
Overview
Mother's Kiss is a 1890 print by Mary Cassatt, created using a combination of color drypoint, softground etching, and aquatint on laid paper.
Subject & Meaning
The print depicts a tender moment between a woman and a baby, capturing an intimate scene from everyday life. The woman, dressed in a floral-patterned dress, holds the naked baby against her, conveying a sense of warmth and closeness.
Technique & Style
Cassatt employed loose, sketchy lines to convey movement and emotion, marking a departure from the formal, rigid portraiture prevalent at the time. The use of color drypoint, softground etching, and aquatint allowed for a range of tonal values and textures, adding depth to the image.
Context
As an American expatriate associated with the Impressionists, Cassatt frequently explored themes of domesticity and the relationships between women and children in her work.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
Artist
Mary Stevenson Cassatt (; May 22, 1844 – June 14, 1926) was an American painter and printmaker.
