Mary Cassatt at the Louvre: The Etruscan Gallery
Original title: Mary Cassatt at the Louvre: The Etruscan Gallery
kurzbeschreibung
Edgar Degas made this etching in 1879–80. It pictures Mary Cassatt and her sister in the Louvre's Etruscan Gallery. The print is a drypoint and aquatint etching, shown here in the third of nine states.
Description
One woman sits on a bench, reading, while another stands and looks toward the sculptures. Both wear dresses and coats of the period. Etruscan statues are placed around the room. Light falling from above picks out the figures and objects. The layout feels asymmetrical, and the palette stays within grays.
Context
Degas and Cassatt shared a close friendship and worked together as colleagues in Impressionist circles. The etching grew out of their visits to the Louvre. Cassatt was an artist herself and one of the few women in the movement. This sheet presents an everyday scene of looking at art in the late nineteenth century.
Impact
A quiet, intellectual mood comes through the etching. That women appear here in the museum underscores their presence in cultural life. The delicate needlework creates a dense effect, reminiscent of fabric.
Technique
Soft-ground etching, drypoint, and aquatint come together on this sheet. These processes allow soft lines and tonal transitions. Printing on paper emphasizes the graphic quality.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)