Sketch of Head of Margo 1902

Mary Cassatt made this sketch of Margo with pastels on paper; those strokes of blue must have just glided on. I imagine Cassatt, probably working quickly, trying to catch a likeness before Margo moved. The blue feels very present – it's like the colour is almost a costume that Margo is wearing, a strange sort of protective layer, as though Cassatt is using the colour to capture a mood as much as a form. I guess Cassatt wants to capture a sense of Margo's inner life. Those lines aren't simply descriptive; they're expressive and alive. The sketch reminds me of some drawings by Degas. Both artists were interested in the intimacy of everyday life, and that connection makes me think about how artists are always looking at each other's work, learning, and responding. Cassatt's impressionistic strokes are a reminder that painting is about capturing a feeling, an essence, rather than just a picture.