Artwork
Portrait of a Young Girl
Portrait of a Young Girl is an oil painting by the Impressionist artist Mary Cassatt. It dates from 1900 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The composition focuses on the girl, who is characterized by specific iconographic elements including a hat adorned with a bow and a ribbon.
Mary Cassatt's 1899 oil painting, Portrait of a Young Girl, depicts a single female subject rendered in a formal portrait style. The composition focuses on the girl, who is characterized by specific iconographic elements including a hat adorned with a bow and a ribbon. These accessories, combined with the presence of pink hues and a background suggesting grass, situate the figure within a specific visual context of late 19th-century childhood.
While the work functions primarily as a likeness, the inclusion of these distinct details, such as the hat, bow, and ribbon, serves to define the subject's appearance and social presentation. The painting captures the young girl as the central figure, emphasizing her attire and the gentle, natural setting implied by the grass.
Technique & Style
The work is an oil painting executed on canvas, measuring roughly 73.7 × 61.3 cm and dated to 1899. Cassatt applied thin layers of oil to achieve a smooth surface and subtle tonal transitions, characteristic of her late‑19th‑century portraiture. The composition depicts a young girl in a hat and pink ribbon, seated against a hint of grass, with delicate brushstrokes that model the figure’s skin and fabric.
Light falls softly across the subject, creating a quiet, intimate mood. The painting’s condition remains stable, having been part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s collection since its acquisition.
History & Provenance
The work was painted in 1899 by Mary Cassatt, as confirmed by both the artist’s date and the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s records. It entered the museum’s collection directly, with no intervening owners documented. The painting has remained in the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s holdings since acquisition, where it is catalogued as part of the institution’s permanent collection.
Overview
This oil painting, titled Portrait of a Young Girl, presents a solitary figure seated within a verdant landscape. The artwork focuses on a young girl, distinguished by her elaborate straw hat and vibrant pink attire, as she engages with her natural surroundings. The artist's approach emphasizes both the subject's presence and the lively atmosphere of the outdoor setting.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Mary Stevenson Cassatt (; May 22, 1844 – June 14, 1926) was an American painter and printmaker.
- The Pink Dress (Albertie-Marguerite Carré, later Madame Ferdinand-Henri Himmes, 1854–1935)
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