Portrait Study of Young Girl 

Curator: Here we have Mary Cassatt's "Portrait Study of Young Girl," executed in watercolor. Editor: The immediate impression is one of peacefulness, or perhaps melancholy. The girl’s eyes are closed, and the brown washes lend a somber tone. The rapid application suggests a fleeting moment captured. Curator: Indeed. Cassatt’s choice of watercolor aligns with Impressionist principles—prioritizing capturing light and fleeting impressions over meticulous detail. Look at how she uses diluted pigments to build form, especially in the face. Editor: It also presents an intimacy, something that speaks to Cassatt's dedication to portraying the lives of women and children in the 19th century. Was this likely a commission or more of a personal sketch? Curator: Hard to say definitively. The unfinished nature indicates a study, not necessarily intended for public display. It perhaps offered Cassatt space to engage with line and value, distinct from the highly codified formal portraits of her era. Note the barely-there suggestions of drapery around the head. Editor: So the loose washes can read not just as form, but as something that obscures, hinting at interiority of the figure and an awareness that not all is readily accessible or visible. Curator: Precisely. And her status as a woman artist within a male-dominated art world adds a layer of meaning. Cassatt actively defied traditional representation norms by showcasing these personal moments. Editor: Looking closely, that minimal and translucent mark-making surrounding the main figure invites speculation. One cannot look at her figure as something static in isolation. I appreciate Cassatt's dedication to her subject matter. It prompts further thought and insight into how portraits of the era were traditionally crafted. Curator: Yes, it avoids the rigidity of many formal portraits. Hopefully this gives us some food for thought regarding the work. Editor: Absolutely. It’s a privilege to consider Cassatt’s subversion, through seemingly simple marks.