The Fitting

The Fitting is a significant prints creation by American artist Mary Cassatt, executed between 1890 and 1891. This remarkable work showcases the artist’s dedication to mastering complex intaglio methods, combining color drypoint, softground etching, and aquatint on laid paper. Created during the transformative period 1876 to 1900, the piece reflects Cassatt’s intense engagement with Japanese ukiyo-e printmaking, which she discovered in Paris during the late 1880s. This influence is apparent in the compositional focus, the use of stark, defined outlines characteristic of drypoint, and the flattened spatial planes.

Cassatt, an essential figure in the history of American art, focused much of her prolific output on the intimate world of women and children, depicting moments of domestic routine and connection. Although residing in France for the majority of her career, the artist's perspective was frequently linked to her American roots, lending a unique viewpoint to the European Impressionist movement. This print demonstrates her innovative approach to textural depth and color registration, achieved through the combination of drypoint's precision and the tonal effects of aquatint. Cassatt aimed to elevate the graphic arts beyond mere reproduction, establishing prints as an art form equivalent to painting.

As one of Cassatt’s key graphic endeavors from the 1890s, the technical rigor displayed in The Fitting firmly establishes her status as a printmaking innovator within her generation. The dedication required to produce such a multi-layered color print was substantial, necessitating highly skilled registration to align the multiple plates used for various colors. This iconic American work is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art, where it serves as a crucial example of fin-de-siècle printmaking. Today, masterworks like this are often made available through public domain initiatives, ensuring widespread accessibility for research and appreciation.