The Mirror

The Mirror, executed by the acclaimed American artist Mary Cassatt in 1891, stands as a refined example of the printmaking mastery she achieved late in the 19th century. This particular work is a drypoint on laid paper, a medium Cassatt frequently utilized to achieve intimate, velvety lines and subtle tonal variations not easily replicated in other graphic processes. Drypoint requires the artist to draw directly onto the plate using a sharp needle, raising a burr that holds ink, which lends a characteristic richness and softness to the resulting image. Cassatt's dedicated engagement with this technique demonstrates her commitment to the graphic arts at a time when traditional printmaking was undergoing a critical revival.

Created during a highly productive phase in her career, this print belongs to a distinct body of work that cemented Cassatt’s reputation as a leading figure among the American expatriates associated with the Impressionist movement. Though she worked primarily in France, Cassatt maintained a distinctly American perspective, often focusing on domestic scenes and the private, reflective lives of women, themes prominent throughout the 1876 to 1900 period. While the specific subject matter of The Mirror is undefined by the available data, typical Cassatt prints from this era focus on figures engaged in quiet contemplation or simple, everyday actions, using the compositional constraints of the drypoint medium to enhance emotional immediacy.

Cassatt’s pioneering practice in developing color processes and her innovative use of black-and-white prints contributed significantly to the elevation of graphic arts to the status of fine art in the late 19th century. Her skillful economy of line and profound psychological depth distinguish her prints within the era’s artistic output. As a significant example of her graphic output, the work resides in the permanent collection of the National Gallery of Art, where it helps document the evolution of American modernism and the critical role Cassatt played in defining a new sensibility in her depictions of womanhood.