The Fitting

The Fitting is a significant print created by Mary Cassatt American, 1844-1926 between 1890 and 1891. This ambitious work is executed in color aquatint with drypoint, utilizing three separate copper plates printed on buff laid paper. Cassatt, a leading figure among American Impressionists working abroad, dedicated herself heavily to printmaking during this period, aiming to produce highly finished, multi-toned graphic images that challenged the contemporary dominance of oil painting. Her innovative use of this labor-intensive process places her among the pivotal artists who adapted the sophisticated techniques of Japanese woodblock prints for a Western audience.

The subject matter focuses on a private, domestic moment typical of the artist's oeuvre: a seamstress adjusting the bodice of a seated woman’s garment. This depiction of women’s labor and leisure, observed with intimacy and respect, reflects Cassatt's consistent interest in the daily lives of contemporary women in the United States and France. Utilizing the delicate texture provided by the aquatint and the expressive lines of drypoint, Cassatt achieves a nuanced study of form and subtle color shifts. The piece demonstrates her sophisticated handling of color registration, distinguishing her finest series of graphic prints produced in the early 1890s.

This exceptional example of Cassatt's output is classified as a masterwork of late 19th-century graphic arts and is held in the permanent collection of the Art Institute of Chicago. As the work is widely studied, many of the artist's significant works have entered the public domain, ensuring the broad accessibility of her contributions to modern art in the United States.