Drawing for "Standing Nude"

Drawing for "Standing Nude" by Mary Cassatt American, 1844-1926, created in 1879, is a foundational preparatory study for one of the artist’s significant prints. This piece captures a traditional subject-the nude figure-but demonstrates Cassatt’s experimental and functional approach to preliminary drawing, specifically its use in graphic production.

Executed in graphite on buff wove paper, the technical details confirm its purpose as a transfer mechanism for printmaking. The surface shows clear evidence of having been traced over for soft-ground etching, a complicated technique that Cassatt frequently employed during this period of her career. Crucially, the verso side displays an offset of the soft-ground medium itself, showing through the paper, indicating that the drawing was physically pressed into the etching plate matrix to transfer the outline before the final impression was pulled. Cassatt (1844-1926) was an American master who dedicated much of her artistic focus to mastering printmaking, elevating the medium to the status of painting.

This detailed preliminary work provides crucial insight into the rigorous preparation required for the artist's successful prints of the late 1870s. As a pivotal figure in the burgeoning Impressionist movement, Cassatt’s drawings often served as independent works while simultaneously feeding into her graphic output. The work reflects the strong connection between draftsmanship and graphic art that defined her production in the United States and Europe. This important study is housed within the renowned permanent collection of the Art Institute of Chicago, offering scholars essential reference material for understanding the evolution of modern graphic art.