Peasant Mother and Child

Peasant Mother and Child

Mary Cassatt

1894

ink

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

About this work

This picture shows a woman and a child sitting on a grassy hill. The woman has her arm around the child, who is leaning into her. Their clothes are simple—dark green for the woman, light brown for the child. The background is mostly dark, with a few rocks under them. The artist used bold lines and dark shadows to give the scene shape. The woman’s coat looks thick and textured, while the child’s face is softer. Look up Impressionism to see how this style played with light and everyday life.

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