Who painted Woman with a Pearl Necklace in a Loge?

Woman with a Pearl Necklace in a Loge was painted by Mary Cassatt in 1890.

Where can I see Woman with a Pearl Necklace in a Loge?

Woman with a Pearl Necklace in a Loge is held by Philadelphia Museum of Art.

What movement is Woman with a Pearl Necklace in a Loge?

Woman with a Pearl Necklace in a Loge is associated with Impressionism.

Can I buy a print of Woman with a Pearl Necklace in a Loge?

Museum-quality prints of Woman with a Pearl Necklace in a Loge are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

Artwork

Woman with a Pearl Necklace in a Loge

Mary Cassatt , 1890

Woman with a Pearl Necklace in a Loge is an oil painting by the Impressionist artist Mary Cassatt. It dates from 1890 and is held in the collection of the Philadelphia Museum of Art.

About this work

Overview

Created in 1879, Woman with a Pearl Necklace in a Loge is an oil painting by American artist Mary Cassatt. The work portrays a seated woman in a theater box, her attention drawn to a pearl necklace she holds. The composition captures a moment of quiet observation within a public setting, reflecting the artist’s interest in contemporary urban life.

Subject & Meaning

The figure represents the emerging image of the modern woman at the end of the nineteenth century, engaged in leisure and personal adornment. By focusing on the act of looking at jewelry, Cassatt hints at themes of self‑presentation and the social rituals of the theater, a space where public and private identities intersect.

Technique & Style

Cassatt’s handling of light and color shows the influence of Impressionism, with soft, shifting tones that suggest the changing illumination of the theater interior. The brushwork is loose yet controlled, allowing the fabric and pearls to glimmer without precise detailing, a method that aligns her approach with that of her contemporary, Edgar Degas.

History & Provenance

The painting entered the collection of the Philadelphia Museum of Art in 1978, following a bequest from Charlotte Dorrance Wright. Since its acquisition, the work has been displayed as part of the museum’s holdings of American Impressionist art, illustrating Cassatt’s role in transatlantic artistic exchanges of the period.