Paris, 1863–1906

Mary Cassatt

The Child's Bath

1893

Oil on canvas, 40 × 26 1/2 in. The Art Institute of Chicago

Look at the flat patterns and clear outlines: Cassatt developed this style after an 1890 show of Japanese prints.

Look at

• Broad stripes on the woman's dress make a bold, flat pattern.
• Firm outlines trace the arms, legs and basin.
• Carpet, wallpaper and chest add more patterns, packed edge to edge.
• The skin is smooth and solid against the busy patterns around it.

• First shown in Cassatt's 1893 exhibition at Durand-Ruel's gallery in Paris.

Image: Art Institute of Chicago Open Access (CC0) · CC0