In the Omnibus

"In the Omnibus" by Mary Cassatt, created between 1890 and 1891, is a significant example of the artist's mastery of complex printmaking techniques. This piece is classified as a color print, executed using a sophisticated combination of drypoint, softground etching, and aquatint applied to laid paper. Cassatt, an American artist based primarily in France, created this work during the crucial period spanning 1876 to 1900, when her focus shifted increasingly toward exploring the subtleties of color printmaking, drawing direct inspiration from Japanese ukiyo-e woodblock prints exhibited in Paris. The technical layering of these different intaglio processes allowed Cassatt to achieve remarkable tonal depth and soft transitions of color rarely seen in the medium at that time.

Cassatt consistently portrayed the intimate social lives of women, often focusing on themes of motherhood, public transportation, and private domestic scenes. While the specific figures within the omnibus carriage are partially obscured or minimized, the composition emphasizes the dynamic structure and geometry of the public vehicle itself. Cassatt uses the strong, incisive lines characteristic of drypoint to define architectural forms, while the aquatint provides the broad, atmospheric color fields necessary to suggest interior light and shadow. The characteristic flattening of perspective and the strong outlines seen in In the Omnibus reflect the profound influence of Japanese prints on her late 19th-century output, moving beyond the strict tenets of French Impressionism she had previously embraced.

As a pivotal work from the late nineteenth century, this print underscores Cassatt's position as a leading figure in the American expatriate art community and a critical innovator in modern graphic arts. The technical excellence required to layer these complex prints makes this work highly regarded. The piece resides today in the permanent collection of the National Gallery of Art, Washington D.C., where it is valued for its technical complexity and its intimate depiction of modern urban life. Many high-quality prints of this era, now available to researchers and the public, often fall under the category of public domain resources, allowing broader access to the intricate details of Cassatt’s pioneering approach to color etching.