Peasant Mother and Child

"Peasant Mother and Child" is a significant color drypoint and aquatint print created by Mary Cassatt in 1894. This work exemplifies Cassatt’s dedicated exploration of the mother-and-child theme, a central motif in her oeuvre. Dating from the period 1876 to 1900, the piece showcases the increasing sophistication of American printmaking during the late 19th century. Cassatt, an expatriate American artist working primarily in France, was deeply influenced by Japanese woodblock prints, which is evident in the flat planes of color and defined outlines present in this particular impression.

Cassatt employed a complex combination of techniques to achieve the nuanced textures and subtle shifts in tone seen here. Drypoint allowed her to draw directly onto the copper plate, yielding rich, velvety lines, while the application of aquatint provided the broad, watercolor-like areas of color and shadow necessary for the background and clothing. Unlike some of her famous series focusing exclusively on bourgeois domesticity, this composition places the figures in a seemingly simpler, rustic setting, focusing on the universal emotional bond rather than social status. Cassatt’s choice to depict the subjects engaged in quiet intimacy underscores her lifelong interest in maternal devotion and the natural grace of everyday life.

The mastery demonstrated in this work solidifies Cassatt's reputation as one of the most important American Impressionists, particularly recognized for her revolutionary approach to color prints. This fine example of her graphic work is currently held in the esteemed collection of the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. As a crucial artifact of the late 19th century, Peasant Mother and Child continues to be studied for its technical brilliance and emotional resonance. Many high-resolution images and studies of Cassatt’s prints are now available for scholarly and public access, often released into the public domain through major institutional partnerships, ensuring the accessibility of this vital component of American art history.