Portrait of an Elderly Lady (c. 1887)
Technique: Giclée quality print
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"Portrait of an Elderly Lady" by Mary Cassatt, painted around 1887, is a poignant example of Cassatt's mastery in portraying the quiet dignity and nuanced personality of her subjects. This painting depicts an elderly woman, her face etched with the lines of age yet also alight with a kind of enduring wisdom and gentle grace. Dressed in a black garment with a rich emerald undergarment peering through, the lady's attire suggests a blend of modesty and a quiet, refined elegance.The focal point of the portrait, beyond the sitter's compelling expression, is the fashionable bonnet adorned with a pink floral decoration. This touch of color not only brightens the composition but also adds a lively contrast to the otherwise muted palette. Her eyes, with a hint of sparkle, connect directly with the viewer, creating an engaging interaction that is both direct and serene.Cassatt's brushwork is fluid and confident, capturing the textures of the lady's clothing and the softness of her skin with equal skill. The background is rendered in loose, abstract strokes that focus our attention on the woman herself, highlighting Cassatt’s focus on character and emotion over elaborate detail.
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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.