Peasant Woman Peeling an Orange 1875

Mary Cassatt painted "Peasant Woman Peeling an Orange" with oil on canvas, during a time when she was exploring the lives of working-class women in Europe. Cassatt, an American expatriate, often depicted women in domestic and social contexts, challenging traditional representations of women in art. Here, the woman's gaze meets ours, a direct connection that defies the typical objectification of female subjects. The act of peeling an orange, an everyday task, elevates the ordinary and acknowledges the dignity of labor. The woman's clothing suggests her class, while her posture exudes a quiet strength. Cassatt's focus on the individual humanity of her subject encourages a more nuanced understanding of gender and class. It's as if she's saying, "These lives matter." The painting invites us to reflect on the unseen labor that sustains daily life and to reconsider the value we place on different social classes. It is both an intimate portrayal and a commentary on the social fabric of its time.