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The image shows a person seated in a contemplative pose. The individual is facing to the side, with their chin resting on one hand. Their closed eyes and calm expression suggest a moment of thought. The person has short, light-colored hair and wears a dark garment underneath a light-colored shawl. They are holding the edge of the shawl with one hand. In the background, there are two abstract floral or fan-like forms on either side of the person against a plain backdrop. The image is in a monochromatic sepia tone.
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The image shows a person seated in a contemplative pose. The individual is facing to the side, with their chin resting on one hand. Their closed eyes and calm expression suggest a moment of thought. The person has short, light-colored hair and wears a dark garment underneath a light-colored shawl. They are holding the edge of the shawl with one hand. In the background, there are two abstract floral or fan-like forms on either side of the person against a plain backdrop. The image is in a monochromatic sepia tone.

National Gallery of Art · Print

A Portrait of the Artist's Mother

Mary Cassatt

Date
c. 1889-1890
Medium
softground etching and aquatint printed in brown on laid paper
Dimensions
plate: 25.24 × 17.94 cm (9 15/16 × 7 1/16 in.) sheet: 35.4 x 21.4 cm (13 15/16 x 8 7/16 in.)
Classification
Print
Accession number
1949.5.467
Credit line
Rosenwald Collection
Time span
1876 to 1900
Department
CG-W
Original NGA record Wikidata

Subjects and terms

  • American
  • Impressionist
  • Woman
  • Costume
  • Portrait
  • Writing
  • mother
  • figure
Provenance

Harris Whittemore [1864-1927], Naugatuck, CT, 1919; (his sale, Parke-Bernet Galleries, New York, 17 January 1949, no. 39); (Charles Sessler, Philadelphia, PA); purchased by Lessing J. Rosenwald, Jenkintown, PA, 1949; gift to the NGA, 1949.

Inscription

recto: at lower right in graphite: Mary Cassatt; verso: at lower left, in graphite, in later hand: A 91021; at lower right, in graphite, in later hand: FEO; at bottom right, in graphite, in later hand: 2928 / ern [?] / v.ax [?]

Watermarks

oval with seated figure holding a spear and shield, mounted by a crown

NGA object ID 36921. Collection metadata is reproduced under CC0. This work is included because its NGA published-image record is marked open access; visitors should recheck the source record before substantial reuse.