Mary Cassatt at the Louvre: The Etruscan Gallery by Edgar Degas, created between 1879 and 1880, is a masterful example of late 19th-century printmaking. Classified as a print, this work utilizes a complex combination of techniques, including soft-ground, drypoint, aquatint, and etching. Degas continually refined his images; this impression represents the third state of the nine known states for this composition, showcasing the artist’s iterative approach to developing the depth and textures of the scene.
The subject of the print is Degas's fellow artist and collaborator, Mary Cassatt, who is depicted visiting the Etruscan Gallery inside the Musée du Louvre in Paris. Cassatt, leaning on an umbrella, is shown viewing an array of funerary artifacts, while her sister, Lydia, is seated nearby studying a catalog. This intimate depiction underscores the evolving role of women in the arts and in public intellectual life during the period, challenging traditional expectations of female subjects. The choice of the Etruscan Gallery, filled with historical objects, suggests a shared artistic contemplation of antiquity.
The highly textured surface achieved through the intricate application of these various etching processes demonstrates Degas's dedication to graphic arts beyond painting. This piece offers valuable insight into the personal relationships among the Impressionists and the contemporary experience of visiting museums. This particular impression of the work is part of the extensive collection of French prints held by the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
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