Under the Horse-Chestnut Tree
1896
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1896
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Under the Horse-Chestnut Tree is a 1896 ink by Mary Cassatt, a Impressionism work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This painting depicts a tender moment between a woman and a child. The woman, dressed in a dark blue top and yellow skirt, is seated on the ground, gently holding the child up in front of her. The child, unclothed, reaches out to touch a leaf from the horse-chestnut tree above them. The scene is set against a backdrop of a blue sky and a green landscape, with the tree's branches stretching out above the pair. The woman's gaze is directed at the child, while the child looks up at the leaves. The painting's use of color and composition creates a sense of intimacy and connection between the two figures. To learn more about the artist's use of light and shadow, explore the technique of chiaroscuro.
