The artwork “Interior of a Tramway Passing a Bridge” by Mary Cassatt dates to the period 1890-1891. Created as a drypoint, it exemplifies the Impressionist and Japonism art movements, classified within the genre painting category. The piece is housed at the Art Institute of Chicago in Chicago, Illinois, United States.
In the artwork, viewers observe the interior of a tramway carriage, where figures are depicted during their commute. The composition illustrates three characters seated and standing within the tram, with a landscape visible through the carriage windows. A sense of daily life and movement is captured through the perspective of the carriage interior and the scenery passing by outside. The influence of Japonism is evident in the flat areas of color and contour lines, a style inspired by Japanese woodblock prints, which were highly regarded by many Impressionist artists of the time, including Cassatt. The scene communicates an intimate, candid moment of everyday life, imbued with an evocative sense of place and time characteristic of genre painting.
The figures appear engrossed in their own world, with two of them facing each other, one holding what appears to be a child. Their attire, along with the hats and the accessories, provides a sense of the fashion of the period. The details of the bridge and the structures in the background through the tramway windows suggest the passing urban environment. The whole ensemble of elements within the artwork offers a glimpse into the intersection of private and public spheres during the late 19th century.
