Who painted Mother and Child with a Rose Scarf?

Mother and Child with a Rose Scarf was painted by Mary Cassatt in 1908-01-01.

Where can I see Mother and Child with a Rose Scarf?

Mother and Child with a Rose Scarf is held by Metropolitan Museum of Art.

What movement is Mother and Child with a Rose Scarf?

Mother and Child with a Rose Scarf is associated with Impressionism.

Can I buy a print of Mother and Child with a Rose Scarf?

Museum-quality prints of Mother and Child with a Rose Scarf are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

Artwork

Mother and Child with a Rose Scarf

Mary Cassatt , 1908

Mother and Child with a Rose Scarf is an oil painting by the Impressionist artist Mary Cassatt. It dates from 1908 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

About this work

Mary Cassatt painted this canvas around 1908, late in her career, after many studies to settle the arrangement.

A seated mother presses her cheek to her child's head while a rose scarf across her lap catches the light. Mary Cassatt painted this canvas around 1908, late in her career, after many studies to settle the arrangement. The figures, posed off-center, still form a classical pyramid, and the lines behind them hold a quiet order. The Met acquired it in 1967 from the bequest of Adelaide Milton de Groot.

Overview

Mary Cassatt's Mother and Child with a Rose Scarf, painted around 1908, exemplifies her late-career dedication to intimate domestic scenes. This oil on canvas work, measuring 46 by 35 3/4 inches, portrays a mother tenderly embracing her child, with a distinctive rose scarf adding a vibrant touch. The composition reflects Cassatt's ongoing exploration of the profound emotional connection between parent and offspring, a theme she consistently returned to throughout her artistic practice.

Subject & Meaning

The painting centers on the universal theme of maternal affection. A seated mother gently presses her cheek against her child's head, conveying a sense of quiet intimacy and protection. The draped rose scarf across her lap draws the eye, while the overall focus remains on the psychological bond.

Cassatt's repeated engagement with such subjects elevated everyday domestic life to a significant artistic theme, challenging traditional hierarchies of subject matter.

Technique & Style

Cassatt meticulously developed this composition, undertaking several preliminary studies to achieve its refined balance. The figures, though arranged with a degree of asymmetry, coalesce into a pyramidal form reminiscent of Renaissance Madonna depictions. This classical structure is subtly reinforced by the background's grid of horizontal and vertical lines, which provides an underlying geometric order and stability to the tender, informal pose of the subjects.

History & Provenance

This oil painting entered the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in 1967. It was a bequest from Miss Adelaide Milton de Groot, a notable collector whose generous donation significantly enhanced the museum's holdings of modern art. The artwork is now displayed within The American Wing, identified by the object number 67.187.122, marking its place in a prominent public collection.

Context

Created toward the end of her productive career, Mother and Child with a Rose Scarf reflects Cassatt's enduring artistic focus. As the sole American artist to exhibit with the French Impressionists, she brought a modern sensibility to her chosen subject matter. Her consistent portrayal of mothers and children became a hallmark of her oeuvre, exploring the nuances of domestic life with both sensitivity and formal rigor.