The artwork known as “Bust of Ellen with Bows in Her Hair” is a creation by the artist Mary Cassatt, dating back to circa 1898. The medium utilized consist of charcoal and pastel on paper. Part of the Impressionist movement, this portrait measures approximately 39.37 by 48.26 centimeters and is currently held in a private collection.
In the artwork, a young subject is depicted, seemingly a child named Ellen. Portraiture, which is the genre this work falls into, is used to convey the sitter’s individuality. Cassatt has applied the pastel with deft strokes to capture the soft and delicate features of the child’s face, highlighting her cheeks with a rosy hue and her expressive eyes that draw the viewer into the artwork.
The use of charcoal outlines the figure subtly while the pastels suggest the textures and colors of the clothing and hair bows. Cassatt’s use of light and shadow is gentle, leaving a fair amount of the brown paper background visible. This technique reinforces the Impressionist intent to capture the fleeting moments of light and atmosphere. Her signature is located visibly at the lower right of the composition, completing the personal and intimate impression that this portrait exudes.
