Nursing

Nursing is a significant drypoint print created by American artist Mary Cassatt American, 1844-1926, executed between approximately 1885 and 1895. This specific impression, printed in black ink on ivory laid paper, highlights Cassatt’s dedicated exploration of graphic media during this transitional decade. Drypoint is a challenging intaglio technique, requiring the artist to scratch lines directly into a copper plate; this process generates a raised burr that holds ink and results in the characteristically rich, velvety lines visible in the finished print.

Cassatt utilized the expressive potential of drypoint to depict one of her most enduring subjects: the private bond between mother and child. In Nursing, the artist captures a moment of deep physical and emotional intimacy, focusing on the absorbed connection between the seated woman and the infant at her breast. Though she was a primary exponent of Impressionism, Cassatt’s approach to prints often reveals an influence from Japanese woodblock printing in the use of strong contours and compressed space.

As an important example of 19th-century graphic arts from the United States, this piece demonstrates Cassatt’s profound contribution to modern printmaking. Her sophisticated handling of line and shadow conveys both the physicality and tenderness of the maternal theme. The work resides within the esteemed collection of the Art Institute of Chicago, making it a key reference for scholars studying the artist’s prints. The continued availability of high-quality images like Nursing through museum archives contributes significantly to the body of art accessible in the public domain.