Child in a Straw Hat

Child in a Straw Hat, painted by Mary Cassatt in 1886, is a quintessential example of the artist’s enduring fascination with maternal and childhood subjects. Executed in oil on canvas, the work places a sensitive focus on the subject, capturing a fleeting moment with the vibrant palette and loose brushwork characteristic of the Impressionist movement, which heavily influenced Cassatt’s American style.

Created during the productive period spanning 1876 to 1900, the painting depicts a young child whose gaze engages directly with the viewer, lending the piece a powerful sense of intimacy and immediacy. The titular straw hat, depicted with careful attention to light and texture, provides structure to the composition while framing the sitter's face. Cassatt employed rapid, visible strokes to render the background and clothing, contrasting the relative sharpness of the child’s features and eyes, demonstrating a mature mastery of painterly technique learned through her involvement with the French avant-garde.

As an expatriate artist, Cassatt became a pivotal figure who introduced Impressionist principles to the American public. Unlike traditional formal portraiture of the time, this work emphasizes psychological depth and the natural posture of the child rather than social status. The canvas highlights her dedication to portraying the quiet dignity of domestic life, which became the hallmark of her celebrated career. Today, this significant painting is held within the esteemed collection of the National Gallery of Art, Washington D.C., preserving a crucial moment in late 19th-century transatlantic art. The prominence of this historical work ensures that high-quality prints and reproductions are frequently made available, often through various public domain initiatives.