Lady in Black, in a Loge, Facing Right

Lady in Black, in a Loge, Facing Right by Mary Cassatt American, 1844-1926, is a compelling example of the artist’s deep engagement with both the subject of modern womanhood and the technical complexity of printmaking. Executed in 1881, this piece showcases Cassatt’s masterful application of soft ground etching combined with aquatint on cream laid paper, allowing her to achieve nuanced tonal gradations and rich, velvety blacks crucial to the theatrical setting.

Though she was an American expatriate, Cassatt was a core figure in the French Impressionist movement, and this work reflects her recurring interest in observing and interpreting women within the burgeoning social landscape of Paris. The composition focuses intimately on a solitary female figure dressed in dark attire, positioned within the deep shadows of an opera box (loge). Her posture, turned to the right and partially obscured, suggests a moment of introspection or focused observation, positioning her as both a spectator and a subject of scrutiny. Cassatt uses the stark lighting inherent in the loge setting to highlight the psychological depth of the figure, a common trait in the artist’s prints from this period that explored the tension between public visibility and private experience.

This sophisticated print belongs to a crucial period in Cassatt’s career when she was experimenting heavily with graphic media, pushing the boundaries of what was achievable through etching and aquatint. The work has become highly significant to the history of graphic arts produced by artists from the United States working internationally. The original print is held in the permanent collection of the Art Institute of Chicago. Its status as an important work from the late 19th century means that high-resolution reproductions of this piece often enter the public domain, ensuring its continued study and appreciation by a global audience.