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

Edgar Degas created this print of Mary Cassatt at the Louvre using etching, drypoint, and aquatint. It captures a moment in the lives of women artists during a period of significant social change. In late 19th-century Paris, women like Cassatt navigated the art world while challenging societal expectations. The print shows Cassatt with a companion, both women are respectfully dressed, in a public museum, actively engaging with art. Degas was known for his complex attitude towards women and, here, he captures Cassatt as a figure of intellect and independence, a departure from traditional representations of women as passive objects. As Degas himself once said of Cassatt, "I don't admit that a woman can draw that well." The scene reflects a sense of quiet observation and contemplation, with the museum serving as a space for women to find inspiration. The artwork shapes our understanding of the role of women artists in shaping cultural narratives. In its quiet way, it's a conversation about seeing and being seen.