The artwork “Heads of Leontine and a Friend” is a portrait created by artist Mary Cassatt around 1898. Utilizing pastels as her medium, Cassatt’s piece is an exemplar of the Impressionist movement. The artwork, which measures approximately 45.72 by 54.61 cm, is currently part of a private collection. Through the intimate genre of portraiture, Cassatt captures the visages of her subjects, Leontine, and a friend.
In this pastel artwork, Cassatt presents the headshots of two individuals, with Leontine presumably on the left. The image showcases her skilled use of pastels to convey the softness of skin, the gentle features of the faces, and the characters’ expressions. The figures are set against a raw, textured brown background that contrasts with the more refined treatment of their faces and headgear. The artwork is imbued with the characteristic looseness of Impressionism, focusing not on the fine details but rather on the overall impression given off by the subjects. The personal connection between the artist and her models can be discerned in the sensitive rendering of their features and the shared space they occupy within the composition.
