Mary Cassatt and Me 1976

Miriam Schapiro created this mixed media collage titled "Mary Cassatt and Me" using fabric and paint. Immediately, the eye is drawn to a central image of a mother bathing a child, reminiscent of Cassatt's intimate scenes, surrounded by a textured, darker field. The composition is structured around contrasts: light and dark, representation and abstraction. Schapiro uses a central representational image framed by more decorative elements. It’s a bold gesture that invites us to reflect on themes of domesticity and the feminine, both of which are framed within the complex patterns and textures surrounding it. In her work, Schapiro creates a dialogue between high art and craft, challenging traditional art historical categories. The collage destabilizes fixed meanings, suggesting how personal and cultural narratives can be woven together in unexpected and meaningful ways.