Nurse Reading to a Little Girl 1895

Mary Cassatt made this image of a nurse reading to a little girl, using pastel chalks, a material that allows for spontaneity and subtle blending. Unlike oil paint, pastel doesn't involve a lot of preparation; you can pick it up and draw right away. In this picture, Cassatt makes full use of that immediacy. You can see the strokes of color laid down loosely, almost like threads in a piece of fabric. The texture of the paper support is also evident, adding to the sense of informality. Pastel was a favorite of Impressionist artists like Cassatt, who were interested in capturing fleeting moments of everyday life. And it's an appropriate material here, as it lends itself to a domestic scene. The soft, powdery quality of the pastel mirrors the tender interaction between the nurse and child. Cassatt wasn’t interested in portraying grand historical events or religious scenes, but instead focused on the everyday lives of women and children. In doing so, she elevated these subjects to the realm of high art, showing us the beauty and importance of the ordinary.