Reine and Margot Seated on a Sofa (No. 2) c. 1902

Curator: This is Mary Cassatt's "Reine and Margot Seated on a Sofa (No. 2)," currently residing at the Harvard Art Museums. There's a tenderness in it that I find immediately striking. Editor: Yes, and look at the etching technique! You can see the lines that build up the image; it's all about the labor and the process of making. The limited tonal range amplifies the focus on the bond between mother and child. Curator: Absolutely. The way the child looks up to the mother—it speaks volumes about the mother-daughter relationship, a recurrent theme in Cassatt’s work, charged with cultural significance. Editor: I am drawn to the material reality of it, seeing beyond just the imagery and considering its production. The intimacy isn't just in the subject matter, but also in the accessibility of printmaking as a medium. Curator: It’s a powerful visual representation of a societal role and its emotional core. Editor: Precisely, and understanding the means of its creation deepens that understanding.