The Fitting

"The Fitting," created by American artist Mary Cassatt between 1890 and 1891, is a masterful example of the color print revolution that defined fin-de-siècle graphic art. Cassatt, an expatriate who worked primarily in France, utilized the complex processes of color aquatint and drypoint, collaborating directly with the skilled French printer Leroy to achieve the desired tonal effects and precise color registration. This highly refined print exemplifies Cassatt's dedication to elevating printmaking to the status of painting.

The work was achieved through the demanding process of using three separate plates, which allowed the artist to build up subtle gradations of color and texture. The unique combination of etching techniques-employing color aquatint for broad, atmospheric washes and drypoint for fine, precise line detail-results in a rich, painterly surface quality. This sophisticated technical approach, executed during a period when Japanese woodblock prints strongly influenced European artists, shaped Cassatt’s compositions, particularly evident in her use of flattened spatial planes and distinct contours.

Characteristically, Cassatt focuses on intimate scenes of contemporary female domesticity, here capturing the subtle relationship between a seated dressmaker and her client during a garment adjustment. This concentration on the private world of women remains central to her artistic legacy in the United States and internationally. This significant piece of graphic art, classified as a print of the United States culture, is currently held in the esteemed collection of the Art Institute of Chicago. The longevity and study of such works are often supported by institutions making high-quality images available through public domain initiatives.