Margot Leaning against Reine's Knee

Margot Leaning against Reine's Knee is a sensitive drawing executed by American artist Mary Cassatt in 1902. This intimate piece is rendered in graphite on wove paper and classified as a formal drawing study. Created during the post-Impressionist phase of 1901 to 1925, the work exemplifies Cassatt’s enduring focus on the private, domestic relationship between women and children, a theme that consistently defined her output throughout her long career.

The composition centers on two figures, the child Margot and the adult Reine, who frequently served as models for Cassatt in the early 1900s. Margot is depicted in a moment of relaxed dependency, leaning her head and shoulder heavily against Reine's knee, while the adult figure provides a stable anchor for the composition. Cassatt utilizes the subtle texture of the graphite medium to achieve rapid yet precise definition of form and gesture. The draftsmanship is notable for its economy of line; the artist suggests volume and the soft contours of the figures through carefully modulated strokes, rather than heavy shading or complex background details.

Drawings of this nature served a dual purpose: they were studies for finished compositions, often later realized as oil paintings or color prints, and they were significant works in their own right, demonstrating the artist’s technical rigor. Cassatt, though spending the majority of her professional life in France, remained a central figure in the development of American art during the early 20th century. This particular study demonstrates the refinement of her style, moving toward compositions focused equally on clarity of form and psychological depth. The subtle depiction of affection and trust visible in Margot Leaning against Reine's Knee provides crucial insight into the working methods and thematic concerns of this influential master. The work is housed within the comprehensive collection of American drawings at the National Gallery of Art.