The artwork titled “Mary Cassatt at the Louvre (study)” is a creation of Edgar Degas, a renowned artist associated with the Impressionist movement. This piece belongs to the genre of sketch and study and is part of the collection at the Lauren Rogers Museum of Art located in Laurel, Mississippi, United States. The artwork captures the essence of Degas’s interest in the figure and movement, and its portrayal of Mary Cassatt—a fellow artist and frequent subject of Degas’s works—reflects the candid and intimate nature of Impressionist studies.
The artwork depicts a woman, viewed from behind, standing in an elegant, contemplative posture. The figure of Mary Cassatt is rendered with loose, expressive strokes that signify the sketch’s study quality. Her attire suggests a degree of sophistication, featuring a dark dress with hints of reflective light that accentuate its texture and form. The woman’s hat and the delicate touch of pink at the neck add to the overall impression of a genteel appearance.
A sense of depth and dimension is created through the contrast of the dark tones of her dress against the lighter, muted backdrop. The woman is holding what appears to be a booklet or guide in one hand, and a parasol in the other, which extends diagonally across the composition, adding a dynamic element to the static pose.
Degas’s handling of the medium, likely pastel or charcoal on a toned paper, showcases his skill in conveying the immediacy of a moment with a few deft marks. The study is both a reflection of the artist’s observational prowess and a window into the social and cultural atmosphere of the time, as experiencing art in an institution such as the Louvre was a common leisure activity among the Parisian elite during the latter part of the 19th century.
