Mary Cassatt at the Louvre: The Etruscan Gallery 1879 - 1880

Edgar Degas made this print, titled "Mary Cassatt at the Louvre: The Etruscan Gallery," using etching and drypoint. It depicts two well-dressed women, one of whom is the American painter Mary Cassatt, in the Louvre Museum in Paris. The image offers a glimpse into the cultural life of the Parisian bourgeoisie in the late 19th century. Museums like the Louvre were becoming increasingly popular destinations for both locals and tourists. The print raises questions about the role of women in public spaces during this period. Were they there simply as spectators, or were they also active participants in the production of culture? To understand this image better, we might look at visitor logs from the Louvre or study fashion plates from the era, which will reveal the social codes embedded in the women's clothing. These resources would help to understand the complex social and institutional forces at play in the art world of 19th-century Paris.