The Picture Book (No. 1)

The Picture Book (No. 1) is a delicate drawing executed by Mary Cassatt in 1901. Created using graphite on wove paper, this intimate work exemplifies the American artist's mastery of draftsmanship during the early decades of the twentieth century, specifically the period encompassing 1901 to 1925.

Although primarily known for her luminous oil paintings and highly influential colored prints, Cassatt frequently utilized graphite studies to plan compositions and capture the intimate immediacy of her subjects. This particular piece focuses on one of her signature themes: the domestic interaction between a child and an adult, both intent on the contents of the book held between them. The technique is sensitive and exploratory, employing modulated graphite lines to define the figures’ forms and suggest the interplay of light and shadow, characteristic of the soft yet precise preparatory studies she produced throughout her career. The focus is on the psychological connection inherent in shared moments of concentration and reading.

As a pivotal American figure who spent much of her professional life living and working in France, Cassatt played a crucial role in bringing Impressionist principles to transatlantic audiences. Works such as this drawing reflect the shift in art historical focus toward modern domestic life and the private world of women and children. The drawing is held in the permanent collection of the National Gallery of Art. Due to its age and cultural significance, high-quality digital records and prints of this preparatory study, along with related works from this period, are often made available through public domain archives, ensuring wider access to the nuances of Cassatt's sophisticated drawing process.