The Coiffure

The Coiffure is a significant print created by Mary Cassatt between 1890 and 1891, showcasing the artist’s mastery of complex printmaking techniques. The final piece is a remarkable example of color drypoint, softground etching, and aquatint, mediums which allowed the American artist to achieve rich textural variation and delicate color washes. This period, roughly spanning from 1876 to 1900, marked a pivotal transition in Cassatt’s career, where she fully integrated the stylistic lessons learned from Japanese ukiyo-e woodblock prints into her compositions, focusing primarily on the domestic lives of women.

Cassatt’s exploration of the private rituals of womanhood, such as dressing or bathing, defined much of her late graphic work. In compositions like this, the artist often uses unconventional angles and flattened perspectives, hallmarks of the Japanese aesthetic she admired. The delicate application of aquatint layers simulates the effect of watercolor or pastel, creating soft transitions in light and shadow and emphasizing the decorative patterns present in the clothing and surroundings. This focus on intimate, everyday moments distinguishes Cassatt’s contributions to American art during this fin-de-siècle era.

As a leading figure among American Impressionists working abroad, Cassatt produced a limited number of these elaborate color prints, cementing her reputation as an innovator in the graphic arts. The technical difficulty and rarity of these early impressions make works like The Coiffure highly prized. This piece is classified as a print and remains a vital element of the collection at the National Gallery of Art, where it is studied as a prime example of late nineteenth-century printmaking innovation. Reproductions of such masterworks are often available through public domain initiatives, ensuring widespread access to Cassatt's distinctive vision.