Interior: On the Sofa c. 1883

Mary Cassatt created this print, "Interior: On the Sofa," using drypoint and aquatint. The scene presents a woman in repose, a book in her hands, set against the backdrop of a richly patterned sofa. The act of reading carries a wealth of associations, from the pursuit of knowledge to solitary contemplation, echoing themes found in depictions of learned figures throughout art history, such as Saint Jerome. The intimate domestic setting transforms the act of reading into a statement on the interior life of women in the late 19th century. Consider the sofa itself, laden with floral designs: flowers, since antiquity, have symbolized beauty and the ephemeral nature of life. Here, the profusion suggests an interior world teeming with thoughts and emotions. Cassatt, like the Renaissance masters, uses composition to guide our gaze and probe the psychological depths of her subject. It is a powerful composition, engaging viewers on a deep, subconscious level, inviting us to consider the interplay between environment and inner life.