The Lamp

"The Lamp," created by Mary Cassatt between 1890 and 1891, is a masterful example of American printmaking during the late 19th century. This specific period, 1876 to 1900, marked Cassatt’s deep engagement with Japanese ukiyo-e influences, resulting in highly complex graphic works that redefined contemporary notions of the print medium. This sophisticated piece combines three demanding techniques: color drypoint, softground etching, and aquatint, all executed on laid paper. This complex layering allowed Cassatt to achieve subtle gradations of tone and rich texture, pushing the boundaries of what was technically possible for color prints at the time.

Cassatt, one of the few American artists formally associated with the French Impressionists, often centered her compositions on intimate, domestic spaces. Although the title refers directly to the artificial light source, the image strongly evokes the private life and environment of women, a characteristic theme throughout her output. The deliberate use of drypoint provides sharp, immediate lines for definition, contrasting effectively with the expansive, granular tonal fields created by the aquatint process. Cassatt’s method emphasized light, shadow, and decorative pattern, demonstrating how she skillfully adapted Japanese design principles to fit the Western domestic setting.

As a defining figure in late 19th-century graphic art, Cassatt’s technical achievements in this medium remain profoundly significant. This work is part of a renowned suite of prints she produced early in the decade that cemented her reputation as a graphic innovator. Today, this important American print resides in the collection of the National Gallery of Art, Washington D.C. Documentation and high-resolution images related to such culturally significant masterworks often enter the public domain, ensuring broad accessibility for scholarly study and public appreciation.