The artwork titled “Baby Reaching For An Apple” was crafted by the distinguished artist Mary Cassatt in 1893. Executed in oil on canvas, it exemplifies the Impressionist movement, a genre that is characterized by a focus on light and its changing qualities, ordinary subject matter, and vivid brushwork. This particular piece falls within the genre painting category, depicting scenes from everyday life. The artwork is housed in the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, located in Richmond, VA, USA.
In “Baby Reaching For An Apple,” Cassatt captures an intimate and tender moment between a caregiver and a child. The artwork prominently features a woman, likely the mother or a caregiver, holding a baby who is extending an arm towards an apple that hangs from the lush branches of a tree. The caregiver supports the child securely with one hand under the baby’s bottom and the other gently on the child’s arm, guiding the reach for the apple.
Both figures are framed against a densely foliated background, suggesting a private garden or orchard, which is a common setting for Cassatt’s domestic scenes. The woman’s gaze is fixed upon the child, highlighting the bond and interaction between the two. The artwork is rendered with loose, expressive brushstrokes, typical of the Impressionist aesthetic, with dappled light creating a sense of immediacy and vivacity. The use of light and shadow across their figures, as well as the blending of colors, conveys the warmth and depth of the natural setting, as well as the sweetness of the shared moment.
Cassatt’s work often focused on the social and private lives of women, with special emphasis on the bonds between mothers and children. “Baby Reaching For An Apple” is an embodiment of her style and thematic preferences, conveying the beauty and simplicity of a daily, maternal experience through the lens of Impressionism.
