Woman with a Fan

Woman with a Fan is a seminal oil on canvas painting created by American artist Mary Cassatt between 1878 and 1879. This work exemplifies the Impressionist techniques Cassatt adopted during her tenure in Paris, characterized by loose, visible brushwork, an abbreviated execution, and a dedicated focus on light and momentary observation.

The piece depicts a solitary female figure shown in an intimate, interior setting, her attention seemingly directed inward. The painting focuses on the woman holding the titular accessory, rendered with sophisticated handling of oil to capture the textures of the fabric and the subtle nuances of her expression. While the overall style is distinctly Impressionistic, the composition, with its close-up focus on an elegant figure, aligns with Cassatt’s predominant subject matter: the private, domestic lives of women.

Created during the period 1876 to 1900, the canvas reflects the aesthetic shifts occurring in both European and American art towards modernity. The prominent use of the fan, along with the relatively shallow space and bold color choices, suggests Cassatt’s deep engagement with Japonisme, an influential trend embraced by many of her contemporaries, including Edgar Degas. Cassatt often used these intimate scenes to move away from the highly academic or moralizing subjects of previous generations, choosing instead to elevate the quiet dignity and introspection of the modern woman.

The painting demonstrates Cassatt’s mastery in employing a restricted yet rich palette to define the figure and the surrounding atmosphere, proving her ability to apply French avant-garde sensibilities to uniquely American observations. This significant piece resides in the permanent collection of the National Gallery of Art, Washington D.C. As a renowned masterwork from the late nineteenth century, the image is frequently studied by scholars, and high-quality prints derived from the original are often made available through collections designated as public domain.