The Letter

"The Letter," created by Mary Cassatt (American, 1844-1926) between 1890 and 1891, is a masterful example of the artist's engagement with the late 19th-century printmaking revival. This sophisticated work is executed in color aquatint with drypoint, utilizing three separate plates printed on off-white laid paper to achieve a nuanced tonal range and depth. Cassatt, an essential figure in the Impressionist movement, collaborated closely with the French printer, Leroy, known for his technical expertise in complex color printing, to realize the ambitious vision for these prints.

The technique of aquatint allowed Cassatt to create broad, painterly areas of color and shade, echoing the flattened perspectives and decorative patterns derived from Japanese ukiyo-e woodcuts, which heavily influenced the artist and her contemporaries. Cassatt’s application of drypoint adds delicate linear details, particularly visible in the subtle rendering of figures or domestic textures, emphasizing the intimate nature of the scene. The overall style reflects the movement’s focus on private, everyday domestic life.

This refined print is part of a celebrated series focusing on women engaged in quiet, private moments, a common subject for the American artist during her residency in France. The work is a significant example of Cassatt’s contribution to graphic arts both in the United States and Europe. It is held in the extensive collection of the Art Institute of Chicago, where it serves as a core example of fin-de-siècle graphic arts. Given its historical importance and age, high-quality images of this piece are often available for study and reference through public domain initiatives.