The Lamp

The Lamp is a significant print created by the American artist Mary Cassatt (1844-1926) between 1890 and 1891. This complex color print, part of a notable series exploring domestic life and graphic innovation, was executed using color aquatint, drypoint, and soft ground from three separate plates printed on off-white laid paper. The technical mastery required for the precise registration of the color plates suggests a close collaboration between Cassatt and the French printer, Leroy.

Cassatt, a leading figure of the Impressionist movement from the United States, was heavily influenced during this period by her exposure to Japanese ukiyo-e woodblock prints, which inspired her to dedicate time and energy to mastering graphic arts. Like many of her subjects, this piece focuses on an intimate, domestic interior, using the central element implied by the title, The Lamp, to create dramatic effects of light and shadow. Cassatt employed the aquatint process to render delicate tonal areas, while utilizing drypoint to define fine details and contours, resulting in a composition that combines formal rigor with emotional intimacy.

This highly resolved work stands as a key example of her printmaking achievements, securing her reputation as one of the nineteenth century’s foremost graphic artists. The cultural importance of Cassatt's extensive graphic output remains critical for understanding American art abroad. Today, this impression of The Lamp is held in the permanent collection of the Art Institute of Chicago, where it serves as a cornerstone piece documenting the international influence and technical experimentation defining the era.