Who painted Peasant Mother and Child?

Peasant Mother and Child was painted by Mary Cassatt in 1894.

Where can I see Peasant Mother and Child?

Peasant Mother and Child is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is Peasant Mother and Child?

Peasant Mother and Child is associated with Impressionism.

Can I buy a print of Peasant Mother and Child?

Museum-quality prints of Peasant Mother and Child are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

Artwork

Peasant Mother and Child

Mary Cassatt , 1894

Peasant Mother and Child is an ink print by the Impressionist artist Mary Cassatt. It dates from 1894 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

Inscription: Inscribed:lower right in graphite: State / Mary Cassatt

About this work

Overview

Created circa 1894, Peasant Mother and Child is a color print executed in drypoint and aquatint. The image presents a modestly dressed woman cradling a young child, both rendered against a subdued blue‑green backdrop. The composition emphasizes a quiet, close‑up interaction, with the mother’s gaze directed toward the child and the child looking sideways, conveying a restrained domestic intimacy.

Subject & Meaning

The work depicts a rural mother in a dark, high‑necked dress holding her child, who wears a lighter garment. Their simple attire and the muted setting suggest a modest, everyday life rather than a staged scene. The tender pose and the downward glance of the mother highlight the protective bond and the everyday responsibilities shared between mother and child.

Technique & Style

Cassatt employed the intaglio processes of drypoint and aquatint, allowing for fine, velvety lines and broad tonal washes.

Cassatt employed the intaglio processes of drypoint and aquatint, allowing for fine, velvety lines and broad tonal washes. The drypoint incisions produce delicate, slightly fuzzy edges, while the aquatint areas create soft, uniform color fields that define the figures and background. These methods align with Impressionist interests in capturing fleeting moments and atmospheric effects, yet they are applied here within the controlled medium of printmaking.

History & Provenance

American artist Mary Cassatt, who spent most of her professional career in France, produced the print during her mature period, when she was closely linked to the Impressionist circle and regularly exhibited with its members. The piece reflects her sustained focus on women’s private lives, a theme that recurred throughout her oeuvre. Its creation date and medium place it among Cassatt’s later print experiments, contributing to the body of work that documented domestic scenes.