Gathering Fruit

"Gathering Fruit" is a highly refined color print created by Mary Cassatt in 1893. This technically demanding work is executed using a combination of color drypoint, softground etching, and aquatint on laid paper. This multi-process technique showcases the artist’s dedication to mastering the graphic arts and moving beyond the constraints of traditional linear printmaking.

During the critical transitional period spanning 1876 to 1900, Cassatt became deeply interested in the aesthetic qualities of Japanese woodblock prints, which strongly influenced her innovative approach to composition, texture, and color application in her own prints. The resulting stylistic shift toward defined planes of color and flattened space is evident in this piece. As one of the preeminent American artists working primarily in Paris, Cassatt frequently focused her subject matter on domestic life, women, and children, elevating these intimate moments to high art.

While the specific scene of Gathering Fruit suggests activity or labor, it aligns with Cassatt’s broader exploration of figures engaged in careful, deliberate tasks, often focusing on the relationship between mother and child or the independent figure of the working woman. The specialized application of softground etching allowed Cassatt to achieve subtle gradations of tone, while the aquatint created rich, opaque color fields, providing a modernist depth to the finished work.

This classification of Print is considered a significant example of her graphic output from the late 19th century. Cassatt’s pioneering efforts in color printmaking helped define the trajectory of American artists working abroad during this period. The work resides in the distinguished collection of the National Gallery of Art, where it serves as a central example of her technical mastery, and it is frequently studied as an important resource available within the public domain.