The artwork titled “Feeding the Ducks” by Mary Cassatt was created in the year 1895 utilizing mediums such as aquatint and drypoint on paper. It belongs to the Impressionism and Japonism art movements and is categorized as a genre painting. This piece is housed at the Allen Memorial Art Museum (AMAM) in Oberlin, Ohio, United States.
In “Feeding the Ducks,” there is a tender and intimate moment portrayed between figures in a natural setting. The composition features several individuals aboard a small boat, engaged in the charming and leisurely activity of feeding ducks gathered around in the water. The figures appear relaxed and content, with an emphasis on the domestic and everyday life — a hallmark of genre painting.
The artist has used soft, muted colors with a gentle application, giving the artwork a warm and inviting atmosphere. The touches of color and light capture the essence of the Impressionist movement, which aims to portray the sensation of a given moment with fluid brushstrokes and attention to the effects of light.
There is a sense of harmony between humans and nature, and perhaps, the influence of Japonism is reflected in the composition’s balance and the flatness of the forms, reminiscent of Japanese prints. The relaxed postures of the figures and their informal interaction with the ducks create a narrative of serene simplicity, further reinforcing the genre painting’s focus on slices of life and personal moments.
