The artwork titled “Motherhood,” created around 1906, is an oil on canvas painting by the artist Mary Cassatt. Belonging to the Impressionism art movement, this genre painting measures 81.28 by 65.41 centimeters. While the current location of the artwork is within a private collection, its profound depiction of the maternal bond echoes Cassatt’s dedication to themes of motherhood and the intimate moments of everyday life.
In the artwork, the viewer observes an intimate portrait of a mother and her child. The mother, embracing her young, nude child on her lap, leans forward to place a tender kiss upon the child’s forehead. The artwork’s palette consists of soft, warm tones that enhance the tender and serene mood of the scene. Both figures are rendered with loose, expressive brushstrokes typical of the Impressionist style, capturing the ephemeral quality of the moment and emphasizing the tactile connection between the figures. The mother’s gaze is directed affectionately towards the child, while the child looks outwards, engaging the viewer directly with an innocent and calm expression.
Cassatt’s treatment of light and color, combined with the candid representation of the figures, establish a sense of immediacy and emotional depth. The softness of the forms and the diffused background suggest a transient, fleeting moment in time, characteristic of the Impressionist approach to capturing the essence of life’s simple yet profound experiences.
