Portrait of Mlle C. Lydia Cassatt, The Artist's Sister 1880

Editor: Here we have Mary Cassatt’s "Portrait of Mlle C. Lydia Cassatt, The Artist's Sister," painted around 1880. It’s an oil painting, seemingly done outdoors, which lends it a casual feel. I’m struck by the slightly melancholy mood. What’s your take on this piece? Curator: It's interesting you mention the melancholy. Considering the painting's public role, its depiction of a woman alone in a public space is telling. The Impressionists, Cassatt included, were documenting modern life, but what does it mean to see Lydia presented this way? Notice how her gaze avoids ours, and the relatively muted tones despite the Impressionistic brushwork. What do you think that communicates about women's visibility in that era? Editor: I hadn’t really considered the social implications beyond it just being a portrait of her sister. Are you suggesting that Cassatt is making a comment on women’s restricted roles or social constraints? Curator: Exactly! This wasn't simply a domestic scene, which might be more 'acceptable' for a woman artist at the time. Cassatt places her sister in the public sphere, but not entirely *of* it. Consider the Paris in which this was exhibited. Were women as free to stroll or sit unaccompanied as men were? Her sister’s reserved posture speaks volumes about that era. Editor: So it's more than just a pretty picture, but a statement on gender roles in late 19th century Paris? Curator: Precisely! Art serves a crucial function in representing as well as potentially challenging societal structures. We see through Cassatt's art what the limits of womanhood could be, and maybe what the artist hoped could change. Editor: That makes me see the painting in a whole new light. I’ll definitely be thinking about the social context of art more. Curator: Excellent. Remember that museums and galleries are not neutral spaces, so ask whose stories get told and how. And thanks to you, I am considering how Cassatt made intimate paintings while remaining observant about women's limited freedom in France at that time.