The artwork titled “Picking Daisies in a Field” was crafted by the esteemed artist Mary Cassatt during the period of 1889 to 1890. This genre painting encapsulates the essence of both the Impressionism and Japonism art movements. Currently, the work resides within a private collection, shielded from the public eye.
The artwork portrays a serene moment featuring two central figures set against a spare, unfinished backdrop. On the left side, a woman is depicted in a reclined position, her body facing towards the viewer but her head turned to look affectionately at the child beside her. She is adorned in a patterned dress that cascades around her in a flowing, rich texture, a hallmark of the impressionist style capturing movement and light. Her attire suggests an informal, leisurely outing, in consonance with the painting’s theme. The colors used for her costume are warm and inviting.
To her right stands a young child, likely a toddler, garbed in a simple, light-colored dress that drops straight down with minimal detailing. The face of the child is turned towards the woman, and they appear to be engaging with each other – perhaps the child is showing something to the woman. The child’s pose and proportion reflect an innocent curiosity, another characteristic celebrated in Cassatt’s works focused on the relationships between children and caregivers.
The painting’s composition, with the figures asymmetrically arranged and the ample negative space around them, implies an influence of Japanese art, which often utilizes such space to convey a broader sense of environment or atmosphere. The brushstrokes and color palette carry the softness of the Impressionist style, aiming to capture a fleeting moment in everyday life through subtle shifts in color and light rather than detailed realism.
Overall, this piece exemplifies the intimate domestic scenes for which Cassatt is revered, while also revealing a cross-cultural artistic dialogue that was occurring during her time.
