The Parrot

"The Parrot," created by Mary Cassatt American, 1844-1926 in 1891, is a significant example of her mastery of printmaking. Classified as a print, the work was executed in drypoint on cream laid paper, a medium Cassatt frequently utilized for its expressive capabilities. The drypoint technique involves incising lines directly into a copper plate using a sharp needle. This action pushes up a soft ridge of displaced copper, known as a burr, which holds ink and yields the characteristic velvety, rich, and slightly blurred line seen in the final impression. This textural quality distinguishes drypoint from the cleaner line produced by traditional etching.

Though Cassatt spent much of her career living and working in France, her contributions profoundly shaped the development of modern art in the United States. During the late 19th century, she dedicated substantial effort to graphic media, often influenced by the flat planes and simplified compositions found in Japanese ukiyo-e prints. This focus on defining form through economical, yet sensitive, lines allowed Cassatt to experiment with composition, pushing against the established norms of Western academic art.

This particular impression offers vital insight into the American artist's technical experimentation during a pivotal year of her career. As a highly celebrated work, The Parrot is frequently studied among examples of turn-of-the-century drypoint prints and graphic design, often entering wider availability through public domain initiatives today. The piece is a key component of the extensive print collection housed at the Art Institute of Chicago.