Woman`s Head with Large Hat 1909

Mary Cassatt made this pastel drawing of a "Woman's Head with Large Hat" sometime in the late 19th century. The marks are soft and hazy, like memories. It's a dance between seeing and feeling, where process is everything. I love the texture; it’s like she barely touched the paper, but somehow, she captured this woman’s gaze. The paper peeks through, doesn’t it? That's the beauty of pastels, they're so immediate. The blue of the hat isn't just blue; it’s a mood, a statement. Look at how the lines around the hat brim are smudged, giving it this wonderful sense of movement. It's like the hat is so big, it's almost too much, but she wears it with such grace. Cassatt reminds me a little of Berthe Morisot, another Impressionist who had a real talent for this kind of casual portraiture. It's not about perfection; it's about capturing a moment, an essence. Art is always a conversation, isn't it?