The artwork titled “Mother Jeanne Nursing Her Baby” was created by Mary Cassatt, an artist renowned for her contributions to the Impressionism movement. The work is believed to have been completed between 1907 and 1908, employing mediums of chalk and pastel on paper. It is a genre painting, reflecting a scene from everyday life. Currently, the artwork is part of a private collection, not on display to the general public.
“Mother Jeanne Nursing Her Baby” depicts an intimate and tender moment between a mother and her child. The mother is shown looking down affectionately at her nursing baby, cradling the infant in her arms. The strokes are soft and luminous, conveying the warmth and closeness of the bond between mother and child. The choice of chalk and pastel allows for a gentle interplay of colors, with the flesh tones, fabric, and background blending harmoniously. The artist has made use of both sharp lines and more diffuse shading to create a sense of both presence and movement within the stillness of the moment.
Cassatt’s work is often celebrated for its exploration of the private and contemplative moments of women’s lives, particularly the special moments of connection between mothers and their children. This piece, with its soft color palette and intimate composition, is a quintessential example of her focus on these themes, and it is emblematic of her larger body of work within the Impressionist style.