Mary Cassatt, Breakfast in Bed

  There is a lot to write about Mary Cassatt (1844-1926), an American , living her adult life in Paris.  She was an early feminist, yet her most important art centered around the theme of loving mother and child.
   This painting is titled Breakfast in Bed.  It is an oil on canvas painted 1897, and is part of the permanent collection of the Huntington Library, San Marino, California.
  Cassatt's close friend and mentor in Paris was the Impressionist, Edgar Degas.  I love Degas's work because of the very strong sense of design and innovative composition; and in this Cassatt painting, we can see his influence. 
  Take a good look.  Notice the very young child is holding food in it's hand, sitting on the bed, with a white shirt on, but without a diaper.   Now what mother in her right mind would do this!  It is 1897, not exactly the age of electric washers and driers.  My guess is that the baby actually did have a diaper on, but Cassatt chose not to paint it in.  Why?   Because it would have broken that beautiful line movement of the mother's arms and the child's legs going down to the latch and ending.   While the child's arms bring our focus up to the faces.  The other part of this composition that is important is the rectangles and line behind the large pillow and ending with the large square in the lower right corner.  It beautifully contrasts with the softness and flow of the bed linens. 
   Cassatt had an interesting life, friends with most of the French Impressionists.  It is her influence on American acquaintances and galleries that brought French art to the United States.  Her own extensive collection is now the foundation of the Impressionists collection at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.   I encourage you to look her up - you will be impressed.
Make Art a part of your life,  it's a beautiful thing to do.

Comments

  1. charguthMay 16, 2020 at 9:27 AM

    I love her work. Maybe it's the gentle maternal touch she gives her subjects. The rosy flesh tones are a great contrast to the white clothes, linens and even the cake. Placement of arms and legs is interesting. I'm glad you pointed out how they contribute to the composition. It's such a pleasant and comfortable scene. Limited palette. Sweet but not "sugary"!! One of my favorites!

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