Preparing Bill for an Outing c. 1889

This is ‘Preparing Bill for an Outing’ by Mary Cassatt, made with drypoint and aquatint on laid paper. The printmaking techniques seen here aren’t ‘traditional’ art materials like oil paint, but they demanded skilled labor. Cassatt would have used a sharp needle to directly scratch lines into a metal plate – that’s drypoint. Then, she used aquatint to create areas of tone through acid-etching. These tonal areas, built from tiny dots, soften the image. The image has a social significance too: Cassatt often depicted women in domestic settings. Look closely at the work involved in dressing a child. The labor and intimacy of motherhood is shown through her artistic process. Next time you see a print, remember that materials and making are key to understanding an artwork, and challenge distinctions between fine art and craft.