Peasant Mother and Child

Peasant Mother and Child is a significant drypoint print created by Mary Cassatt in 1894. This highly refined example of the printmaker’s art falls within the period of 1876 to 1900, representing Cassatt’s mature investigation into the intimate relationships between women and children.

The medium of drypoint is central to the visual effect of this piece. Cassatt employed a sharp needle to incise lines directly into a copper plate. Unlike etching, this process creates a burr—a rough ridge of displaced metal—along the line. When the plate is inked and printed, the burr holds extra ink, resulting in soft, rich, and velvety lines that define the contours of the figures and establish tonal variation. Cassatt skillfully utilized this technique to render the tender connection between the mother and her child, who are presented close together in an unadorned composition that minimizes setting to maximize emotional focus.

Though an expatriate American artist working primarily in France, Cassatt focused her art almost exclusively on the domestic sphere, elevating scenes of everyday life to universal themes. This classification as a print, rather than a painting, highlights Cassatt’s dedication to mastering graphic arts, producing some of the most important prints of the 19th century. Her sustained output during the late 19th century positioned her as a key figure among American artists working abroad and cemented her reputation as a formidable draftswoman.

The quiet intensity achieved in works like Peasant Mother and Child demonstrates Cassatt’s ability to imbue her subjects with dignity and warmth. The composition is simplified, focusing the viewer’s attention on the head-to-head connection and the protective gesture of the mother’s hand. The work is a vital document of the era 1876 to 1900 and remains a powerful representation of the maternal bond. The original impression is part of the distinguished collection of the National Gallery of Art, and today, prints of this masterwork are often available for study through various public domain art initiatives.