In the Omnibus

"In the Omnibus" by Mary Cassatt, created between 1890 and 1891, is a masterful example of the artist's dedication to innovative printmaking. This American artist embraced the challenging combination of color drypoint, softground etching, and aquatint applied to laid paper. The utilization of these varied intaglio techniques allowed Cassatt to achieve subtle color variation and atmospheric depth typically associated with painting, yet captured with the precision required of a print. This highly complex, multi-plate approach was revolutionary for the period.

Cassatt was central to the Impressionist movement, though her focus often remained on the intimate, interior lives of women and children, often observed in public or domestic settings. This piece, created during the flourishing period of graphic art innovation from 1876 to 1900, captures a common, unidealized moment of late 19th-century public transit. The dynamic composition reflects the profound influence of Japanese ukiyo-e woodblock prints, particularly in its flattened perspective, cropped viewpoint, and bold outlines, elements which informed much of Cassatt's mature graphic work. Her choice of subject matter elevates the mundane act of travel into an art historical study of modern life and feminine experience, often emphasizing the relationship between mother and child, a recurring theme in her oeuvre.

The technical demands required to combine softground etching with drypoint and aquatint demonstrate Cassatt's experimental drive in creating refined, marketable color prints. Such complex media necessitated multiple passes through the press and precise registration of the various plates used to achieve the desired colors and textures. As one of the most significant works of graphic art produced by an American artist working abroad, this piece is classified as a vital example of late nineteenth-century prints. The artwork resides within the esteemed collection of the National Gallery of Art. Due to its historical importance and the subsequent expiration of copyright, high-resolution reproductions of the piece are widely available today, often found in public domain catalogs, ensuring its enduring scholarly study.