The Child's Bath by Mary Cassatt

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The Child's Bath
Source: Wikimedia Commons
Everyone living in the Western world has seen a Mary Cassatt painting at some point. Her work, which is dominated by domestic scenes that typically feature women and children, is extremely popular and Cassatt prints can often be found decorating homes and public spaces. Her success is even more impressive when you consider how difficult it was for female artists to find success in the male dominated art world of the nineteenth century.

Cassatt is known for her expressive Impressionist style, which conveys movement and energy while celebrating the nuance and complexity of domestic life. The Child's Bath is one of her most famous paintings and is one of the most popular treasures of the Art Institute of Chicago.

As the title suggests, the piece depicts a woman—presumably the mother—bathing a little girl in a basin of water. Both figures look downward, studying the little girl’s feet as they splash in the water. The painting has a very introspective aura. The scene feels very intimate, as though the viewer is intruding on a moment of deep, parental bonding. Cassatt’s paintings open up a hidden world of family life and domestic tranquility.

From a stylistic perspective, the painting is very carefully and precisely constructed. While the two figures in the foreground appear to have depth and dimension, the background is flat and colorful, giving the vague impression of a comfortable and warm room. This approach gives the impression that the mother and child are swaddled in a cocoon of peaceful domesticity while also redirecting attention back to the figures in the foreground. It is a gorgeous and heart-warming painting, and it’s easy to understand why it’s so popular.

Disclaimer: I’m not an art historian or an expert on this topic. The above is my opinion, based on my interpretation of my foreknowledge of art and history. If I’ve done any additional research, I’ll note it above.

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