The artwork titled “Helene de Septeuil,” created by Mary Cassatt in 1889, is a pastel on paper piece belonging to the Impressionist movement. With dimensions of 40.64 x 64.1 cm, this piece falls under the genre of genre painting, which depicts scenes from everyday life. “Helene de Septeuil” is located at the William Benton Museum of Art at the University of Connecticut in Storrs, CT, US.
The artwork is an intimate portrayal that captures a tender moment shared between two figures, presumed to be a mother and child, evoking a sense of familial love and affection. The viewer’s eye is drawn to the gentle interaction of the mother leaning in to kiss the child, who looks out contemplatively. The colors are soft yet vibrant, featuring a warm palette with notable attention to the rosy cheeks of both subjects, which serves to enhance the emotive quality of the piece.
Mary Cassatt’s use of pastel allows for textured strokes, which is evident in the contrasting patterns and the fabric of the figures’ clothing, as well as the subtle yet dynamic background. The depiction of the clothing, especially the plaid garment of the child, displays Cassatt’s interest in everyday detail and her mastery of rendering textiles in her artwork. The overall composition, full of tenderness and nuance, is a testament to the artist’s skill in capturing the essence of her subjects and their interpersonal dynamics, hallmarks of her contribution to the Impressionist genre and genre painting alike.
