The Caress
Mary Cassatt·1902
Historical Context
The Caress (1902, Smithsonian American Art Museum) is one of the most tender and formally resolved of Cassatt's mature maternal compositions. Painted in the early years of the twentieth century, when her eyesight was beginning to decline, the work captures the physical and psychological intimacy between a mother and two children with particular warmth. The Smithsonian's acquisition of this work helped cement Cassatt's reputation in her home country, where — largely through her influence on collectors like Louisine Havemeyer and her brother Alexander's patronage — Impressionist art found its most enthusiastic American audience.
Technical Analysis
Three figures are drawn into a close, interlocking group that fills the canvas with warmth and physical proximity. Cassatt's mature oil technique is freely applied, with the color of skin and clothing built up in layered, confident strokes. The palette is warm and flesh-dominated, with cool accents in the surrounding elements.
