The Caress c. 1891

Mary Cassatt made this etching, "The Caress," using a metal plate, acid, and ink. The image emerges from a laborious, indirect process. Lines are etched into a metal plate, which is then inked and pressed onto paper, making the image a multiple, rather than a unique creation. Look at the tenderness Cassatt brings to the subject, which becomes all the more powerful when you consider this complex procedure, in which acid corrodes the metal to receive the ink. It takes enormous control to achieve this effect of spontaneity. Cassatt was deeply engaged with the printmaking traditions of Japan, which prioritized refined draftsmanship and the ability to capture a moment with precision. These prints were also made using collaborative workshop systems. The artist made the design, but the print itself was often produced by other artisans. She undoubtedly would have been aware of the social implications of her work as a woman artist engaging with traditionally male printmaking. In this piece, the way the image is brought into being influences its appearance, and in turn, its meaning. The choice of materials, and her conscious engagement with both the formal language of printmaking and the social dynamics of labor, are vital to our appreciation of Cassatt's work.