Kneeling in an Armchair c. 1903

This is Mary Cassatt’s "Kneeling in an Armchair", and it was made using etching, a printmaking technique that has a fascinating history. Etching involves coating a metal plate with a waxy, protective layer. The artist then scratches an image into this layer, exposing the metal. When the plate is dipped in acid, the exposed lines are eaten away, creating grooves. These grooves hold ink, which is then transferred to paper under great pressure, resulting in the print. Think about the labor involved here. Each line is carefully considered, etched, and then printed. The final image, wispy and delicate, belies the intense, almost industrial process behind it. Cassatt's choice of this medium is interesting. It’s a process that allows for subtle tonal variations, capturing the fleeting innocence of childhood. But it also connects her work to a broader history of reproduction, echoing the rise of mass media. This tension between the intimate and the industrial is key to understanding the print’s power. It reminds us that even the most personal images are shaped by the social and economic forces of their time.