The Fitting [verso] 1890 - 1891

Mary Cassatt made this graphite drawing, called 'The Fitting', at an unknown date. It depicts three figures, presumably in a dressmaker's shop. Cassatt was an American artist who lived much of her adult life in France, and she moved in Impressionist circles. It's easy to see the appeal of this subject matter to an impressionist – the world of fashion was rapidly changing in France at this time, in ways that reflected broader shifts in gender roles and social class. As women gained more independence, they also had greater access to consumer goods like fashionable clothing. And as ready-to-wear clothing became more widely available, dressmakers found themselves catering to a wider range of clients, not just the wealthy elite. To understand this drawing better, we could consult fashion magazines and trade publications from the late 19th century, as well as social histories of the period. Art like this always carries the imprint of a particular time and place, which it's the job of the historian to uncover.