Margot Leaning against Reine’s Knee c. 1902

Mary Cassatt made this drawing of a domestic scene, a mother with her child, using graphite on paper. There’s a real tenderness here. You can see the soft lines capturing a moment of connection. I can imagine Cassatt, as she drew, thinking about how to convey the weight of the child leaning, and the mother’s gentle touch. See how the faces are detailed, but their clothing just suggested. It’s like Cassatt is honing in on their exchange of glances. Cassatt was part of the Impressionist circle in Paris, and like Degas and Manet, she was concerned with modern life and portraying the world around her. She is known for her paintings of women, often mothers with their children, exploring the relationship between them, like this drawing. Painters are always looking at each other's work, building on what's come before, maybe arguing with it a little too. As artists, we're all having a big conversation across time. Cassatt’s work still speaks to us today, inviting us to contemplate the complexities of human relationships and the beauty of everyday moments.