DAY 315

A PICTURE’S WORTH 1000 200 WORDS

Breakfast in Bed

MARY CASSATT, 1897

Mary Cassatt has the distinction of being the only female artist whose work we feature in this section, and she is the only Impressionist, if not artist, who dealt primarily with themes of motherhood. In the 19^th century, a well-off woman such as Cassatt had access only to the public and private lives of women like herself. So, not surprisingly, these women (and their children) became the subjects of her art.

Although the Impressionist movement was spurred on by a core group of predominantly French artists, a handful of painters from other countries also associated themselves with it. Cassatt was the most famous American artist to do so. By the time she painted Breakfast in Bed in 1897, she had parted ways with the Impressionists and chose not to associate herself with any particular style. Even so, the Impressionistic influence on this piece is undeniable.

In this tender moment between mother and daughter, the little girl’s naïve contentment is contrasted with the more complex thoughts evident in her mother’s drowsy expression. Abstract curves in the bedding juxtapose the warm detail of faces and limbs in a composition that remains, to this day, a lovely and touching portrait. —DDG