Artwork
Young Girl at a Window
Young Girl at a Window is an oil painting by the Impressionist artist Mary Cassatt. It dates from 1884 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
- Inscription
- Inscribed:lower right: Mary Cassatt
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The painting shows a young girl positioned at an open window, a composition Cassatt used to explore domestic interiors and the quiet moments of girlhood.
The painting shows a young girl positioned at an open window, a composition Cassatt used to explore domestic interiors and the quiet moments of girlhood. The work is an 1884 oil on canvas that belongs to the genre of interior scenes and depicts a girl, indicating a focus on everyday female experience. The girl's placement by the window suggests contemplation of the outside world within the private sphere, a motif associated with themes of innocence and observation.
The piece entered the Corcoran Gallery in 1909 and was later acquired by the National Gallery of Art, underscoring its significance as a representation of Cassatt's interest in women's private spaces.
Technique & Style
Young Girl at a Window is an oil painting executed on canvas, consistent with Mary Cassatt's mature practice. The work measures 100.3 cm in height by 64.7 cm in width, a vertical format suited to the figure of a girl positioned at a window. Classified as a genre scene, the painting reflects the Impressionist handling associated with Cassatt's circle.
The provenance records that the work entered the Corcoran Gallery of Art in 1909 and was acquired by the National Gallery of Art in 2014. No specific notes on condition or surface handling are documented in the available records.
History & Provenance
Painted in 1884, Young Girl at a Window was first recorded in the collection of M. Berend in Paris by 1886, when it appeared as a lender's work in the Eighth Impressionist Exhibition. By around 1900 the work had passed to Durand-Ruel in Paris and then to their New York branch by 1903. It was purchased from Durand-Ruel by the Corcoran Gallery of Art on 18 January 1909.
Following the Corcoran Gallery's dissolution, the painting was transferred in 2014 to the National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C., where it remains. Its inventory number is not specified in the cited sources. The work was included in the Eighth Impressionist Exhibition in 1886, where it was lent by M. Berend, Paris.
Overview
Mary Cassatt's Young Girl at a Window, an oil on canvas from approximately 1884, exemplifies her contribution to the Impressionist movement. This painting captures a quiet, intimate moment, characteristic of Cassatt's focus on the private lives of women and domestic scenes. As an American artist primarily active in France, she became a key figure among the Impressionists, known for her sensitive portrayals of everyday life.
Context
Mary Cassatt, an American who established her career in France, was a prominent member of the Impressionist circle. Her close association with artists like Edgar Degas and her regular participation in Impressionist exhibitions solidified her role within the movement. This context highlights her unique position as an American woman artist contributing significantly to a major European artistic development.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
Artist
Mary Stevenson Cassatt (; May 22, 1844 – June 14, 1926) was an American painter and printmaker.
