The artwork entitled “Elsie in a Blue Chair” is a creation by the artist Mary Cassatt dating back to 1880. Executed in pastel on paper, this portrait is a representation of the Impressionist movement, which is known for its vibrant colors, candid poses, and snapshot-like capturing of everyday life. The dimensions of this piece are 63.5 x 88.9 cm. Following the genre of portraiture, it currently resides in a private collection.
In the artwork, we observe a young child seated in an oversized blue chair. The child, presumed to be Elsie, is dressed in a white frock with detailing that suggests textures through the artist’s deft use of pastel strokes. The presence of a hat adorned with a pale ribbon hints at the careful attention to contemporary fashion of the period.
Mary Cassatt has positioned the subject with an informal demeanor that is characteristic of her portraiture style, lending a certain intimacy and immediacy to the scene. The chair envelops the child, and the use of cool blues in contrast with the warm whites of the child’s dress helps to create a focal point around the figure. The child’s gaze is directed off-canvas, evoking a sense of contemplation or distant attention. This portrayal is a fine example of how Cassatt captures the nuanced expressions and spontaneous moments of her subjects.
The artwork is marked by Cassatt’s application of light, color, and form, which allows the textures of the chair and clothing to appear soft yet vivid. The chair’s plush upholstery is rendered in broad, confident strokes of blue, while the child’s skin and dress are composed with softer, more delicate touches, demonstrating Cassatt’s mastery over the medium of pastel. The intimate scale of the work invites viewers into the private world of the sitter, embodying the essence of Impressionist portraiture.
