Created from high-quality wood, milled with simple clean lines and presented with a satin finish. Includes an off-white mount that will not discolour or fade with age. - Simple, elegant design - Premium, fine art paper with a gently textured surface - Handmade by specialist picture framers - FSC certified off-white mat / window mount - Delivered ready for hanging

"The Child’s Bath" is an oil painting on canvas by Mary Cassatt, executed in 1893. The composition centers on a domestic and intimate scene involving a mother and her daughter. The mother is seated on the edge of a wooden chair, firmly but gently holding her young daughter on her lap. The mother's right hand supports the child's back, while her left hand guides the child's small foot into a basin of water. The child, leaning slightly forward, tentatively gazes at the water, her small hand resting on her mother’s knee for balance.

Cassatt employs a high vantage point, allowing viewers to look down upon the scene from above, a perspective that adds a sense of intimacy and immediacy to the moment. The mother and child are framed by a patterned carpet beneath them, its rich, russet-red hues providing a warm backdrop that contrasts with the cooler tones of the mother’s dress and the child's white dress. The patterns on the carpet and the basin contribute to the flatness of the picture plane, reflecting the influence of Japanese prints, which Cassatt greatly admired.

Color and Technique:

Cassatt’s brushwork is tender and precise, embodying the softness of the figures and their surroundings. The muted palette is punctuated by splashes of color in the rug's ornate pattern and the floral motif on the basin. This method of employing subtle yet expressive color variations underscores the warmth and intimacy of the scene. The textural richness of the fabric and furnishings around the figures add to the painting’s sense of depth and realism.

Emotional Impact:

The painting exudes a tender and peaceful air, capturing the quiet and affectionate bond between mother and child. The relaxed posture of the figures and their focused, absorbed expressions convey a serene, unguarded moment of everyday life. Cassatt masterfully conveys the theme of maternal care and nurture, themes recurrent in her body of work, inviting viewers to reflect on the universality of such intimate moments.

Artist Background:

Mary Cassatt (1844-1926) was an American painter and printmaker who spent much of her adult life in France, where she became closely associated with the Impressionist movement. Known for her depictions of the social and private lives of women, with particular emphasis on the intimate bonds between mothers and children, Cassatt broke new ground for women in art both in terms of her subject matter and her professional success.

Place in Cassatt’s Career:

"The Child’s Bath" is one of Cassatt’s most celebrated works and showcases her deep exploration of motherhood and domestic life. This painting, along with others created during the same period, marks Cassatt’s mature style characterized by her use of Impressionist techniques and influence from Japanese ukiyo-e woodblock prints, which can be seen in her use of perspective and flat areas of color.

Current Location:

The painting is housed in the Art Institute of Chicago, where it has been since 1910. It remains one of the museum’s most cherished and viewed pieces, symbolizing the height of Cassatt’s artistic achievement.

Artistic Movements and Influence:

Cassatt was a key figure in the Impressionist movement, contributing a distinctive voice through her portrayals of the daily lives and private moments of women. Her work was instrumental in depicting the nuances of domesticity, motherhood, and female solidarity. She was one of the few American women to join the French Impressionists and exhibited alongside renowned artists such as Edgar Degas, who admired and influenced her work.

Noteworthy Details:

- The use of an elevated viewpoint and flat color planes hints at Cassatt’s admiration for Japanese art, which had gained popularity in the West during the late 19th century.
- The detailed focus on the hands and feet of the child showcases Cassatt’s attention to the tender aspects of caregiving.
- The painting’s intimate subject matter and warm aesthetic exemplify Cassatt’s ability to elevate ordinary, everyday moments into significant and poetic fine art pieces.

"The Child’s Bath" remains a quintessential example of Mary Cassatt’s contributions to both the Impressionist movement and the representation of women's lives in art.