The artwork titled “Girl In Large Hat” is an exquisite pastel on paper created by the artist Mary Cassatt around 1908. As an eminent figure in the Impressionism movement, Cassatt’s work is celebrated for its poignant yet delicate depiction of private and social lives, especially those of women. This portrait measures 49.53 x 64.14 cm and is currently held in a private collection. The genre of this work, a portrait, is reflective of Cassatt’s focus on intimate moments and personal subject matters.
The artwork captures the tender visage of a young girl adorned with a large, decorative hat. Her gaze is earnest, meeting the viewer with a mixture of innocence and contemplation. The hat itself is a significant feature, brimming with vibrant flowers that provide a stark contrast to the subdued tones of her dress and the background. Cassatt employs soft pastel hues and gentle strokes to convey the texture of the girl’s attire and the woven material of the hat, lending an air of quiet realism to the piece. Through her use of light and color, the artist achieves an impressionistic quality that both invites emotional connection and evokes the sense of an ephemeral, fleeting moment captured in time.
