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The Bath [verso]

Mary Cassatt

1890

graphite

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

Impressionism Realism Late 19th Century Nude

Dominant colour

The Bath [verso] is a 1890 graphite by Mary Cassatt, a Impressionism work, held at National Gallery of Art.

Who painted this?: Mary Cassatt
When & what style?: 1890 · Impressionism
Where can I see it?: National Gallery of Art

About this work

This sketch shows a woman sitting on a chair, holding a baby in her lap. The baby is reaching for a large bowl she’s holding. The lines are loose and quick, with soft shading for shadows. The artist used a special drawing method—softground etching—to create smooth, blended tones. This was a rare technique for her time. Next, check out Impressionism to see how artists used light and movement in their work.