Mary Cassatt kijkt naar schilderijen in het Louvre

Mary Cassatt kijkt naar schilderijen in het Louvre by Edgar Degas, created between 1879 and 1880, captures a poignant moment of artistic contemplation. This sensitive print, executed on paper, features the American Impressionist painter Mary Cassatt observing masterworks within the grand galleries of the Louvre in Paris. Degas frequently used Cassatt as a subject, recognizing her intensity and intellect, and often depicting her in cultural settings such as the theater or museum. The composition avoids the formality of typical portraiture, instead presenting an intimate, private glimpse of a fellow artist engaged with the history of art, seemingly lost in thought before the monumental canvases.

Degas was a prolific experimenter with printmaking techniques, favoring etching and drypoint for their ability to convey environment, movement, and dramatic shadow. This particular work exemplifies his mastery in utilizing expressive line and tone to shape the interior space and define the figures within it. The depiction of Cassatt in the Louvre links the modern Impressionist movement, of which both artists were leaders, directly to the classical traditions housed in the museum's collection. The close professional relationship and friendship between Degas and Cassatt were instrumental to their careers, making pieces such as this invaluable historical documentation of the late 19th-century artistic milieu. This significant print detailing the interaction of modern artists and art history is held within the renowned collection of the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam.