Reading the Newspaper, No.2

Reading the Newspaper, No.2 by Mary Cassatt (American, 1844-1926), created in 1883, exemplifies the artist’s commitment to mastering sophisticated printmaking techniques during her pivotal period in France. This particular work is an intimate portrayal executed using soft ground and aquatint on cream laid paper. Cassatt, who often focused on domestic scenes, frequently explored the new freedom afforded to modern women, depicting them reading, writing, or engaging with intellectual life beyond traditional maternal duties. The soft ground process allows for rich tonal variations and subtle textures, mimicking the fluidity of drawing, while the aquatint provides dense, even fields of tone characteristic of her approach to graphic arts.

As one of the few artists from the United States fully integrated into the Parisian Impressionist circle, Cassatt utilized the medium of prints to disseminate her aesthetic ideas widely and affordably. Produced in the mid-1880s, this work reflects the artist's focus on bourgeois life and private moments of contemplation. The print medium was favored by Cassatt as it allowed for rapid shifts in shadow and light, capturing the transient effects central to Impressionism. This subtle portrayal of domestic intellectual activity contributes significantly to the understanding of modern womanhood in the late 19th century. This important piece is classified as a print and resides in the extensive collection held by the Art Institute of Chicago, a major repository of Cassatt’s work, much of which is now entering the public domain, ensuring its continued study and appreciation.