In the Omnibus

"In the Omnibus" is a significant color print created by Mary Cassatt between 1890 and 1891. This complex artwork, classified as a print, showcases the artist’s mastery of layered techniques, combining color drypoint, softground etching, and aquatint on laid paper. Cassatt, an American artist deeply embedded in the Parisian avant-garde, employed these intricate methods to achieve subtle tonality and rich textural effects, pushing the boundaries of graphic art during the period 1876 to 1900.

Cassatt dedicated much of her mature career to exploring domestic and public scenes featuring women and children. Works like In the Omnibus capture the democratization of urban life and offer an intimate glimpse into the social spaces occupied by women at the close of the nineteenth century. The scene depicted utilizes strong outlines and flattened perspective, a stylistic approach influenced by the Japanese ukiyo-e prints Cassatt encountered in Paris. This piece is characteristic of her desire to elevate scenes of daily life, transforming casual observation into compelling artistic statements.

As an influential American artist working abroad, Cassatt’s dedicated output helped redefine modern graphic art. The intricate process used to create this work required extensive labor, highlighting her dedication to printmaking as a primary artistic medium, not merely a reproductive one. This important example of Cassatt’s innovative color printing resides in the permanent collection of the National Gallery of Art. Due to its age and historical importance, high-resolution images and prints of this foundational work are frequently made available through public domain initiatives, ensuring broad access to the artistic achievements of the late 19th century.