Knitting in the Library (recto) (c. 1881)
Technique: Giclée quality print
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"Knitting in the Library (recto)" by Mary Cassatt, created circa 1881, is a captivating pencil sketch that showcases the artist's skill in capturing quiet, introspective moments. The drawing depicts a woman absorbed in the act of knitting, seated comfortably in an armchair. She appears serene and focused, her attention fully engaged in the crafting of her knitwork.The background of the scene is characterized by a wall of books, suggesting that the activity is taking place in a library. This setting not only adds a sense of tranquility and introspection but also aligns with the themes of domesticity and the private lives of women that are often explored in Cassatt's works.Cassatt's use of delicate and precise pencil strokes enhances the texture of the woman's clothing and the softness of the yarn. There's an intimacy in the way the artist captures the subject, reflecting Cassatt’s interest in the everyday lives and inner worlds of women.
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Mary Stevenson Cassatt was an American painter and printmaker. She was born in Allegheny City, Pennsylvania (now part of Pittsburgh’s North Side), but lived much of her adult life in France where she befriended Edgar Degas and exhibited with the Impressionists. Cassatt often created images of the social and private lives of women, with particular emphasis on the intimate bonds between mothers and children.
She was described by Gustave Geffroy as one of "les trois grandes dames" (the three great ladies) of Impressionism alongside Marie Bracquemond and Berthe Morisot.In 1879, Diego Martelli compared her to Degas, as they both sought to depict movement, light, and design in the most modern sense.