Mary Cassatt at the Louvre: The Etruscan Gallery

Mary Cassatt at the Louvre: The Etruscan Gallery by Edgar Degas (French, 1834-1917), created between 1879 and 1880, is a masterful example of the artist's innovative and complex approach to printmaking. This unique impression utilizes a sophisticated layering of intaglio techniques, including soft ground etching, drypoint, aquatint, and standard etching. The surface quality is further enhanced by the application of reddish-brown pastel, lending a distinct chromatic warmth to the composition rendered on ivory Japanese paper. This extensive technical complexity distinguishes Degas’s intensive experimentation with artistic prints during the late 1870s.

The subject matter features fellow artist Mary Cassatt, who worked closely with Degas in France, as a concentrated figure within the hallowed halls of the Louvre Museum. She is depicted examining artifacts in the Etruscan Gallery, reinforcing the importance of classical academic study to the Impressionist circle. Degas captures the quiet intensity of museum contemplation, emphasizing the psychological connection between the viewer and the ancient objects.

Unlike many Impressionist works focusing on outdoor scenes, Degas frequently explored interiors and the private lives of figures in Paris. This sophisticated print documents the close working relationship between Cassatt and Degas, providing an intimate glimpse into their shared artistic environment. This important work currently resides in the permanent collection of the Art Institute of Chicago, where it is preserved among other key examples of 19th-century French prints.