The artwork titled “Portrait of Mlle C. Lydia Cassatt, The Artist’s Sister” is a notable work by the artist Mary Cassatt, which was completed in the year 1880. Exhibiting the traits of the Impressionism movement, the piece is executed in oil on canvas and comprises the genre of portraiture. This painting is currently a part of the collection at the Petit Palais in Paris, France.
In the artwork, the subject depicted is the artist’s sister, Lydia Cassatt. Lydia is shown seated, angled slightly to the side while looking off into the distance, as if lost in thought. She is enveloped in richly textured and vividly colored garments that drape around her form, speaking to Cassatt’s mastery in rendering the interplay of light and color. The vibrant orange and red tones of her dress stand out against the muted greens and browns of the background, which appears to be a blurred rendition of a garden or natural setting.
The strokes are loose and expressive, characteristic of Impressionism, where emphasis is on capturing the essence and atmosphere rather than the precise details. There is a spontaneous quality to the paint application, suggesting movement and a fleeting moment captured in time. The mix of warm and cool colors, along with the contrast of sharp and soft edges, creates a dynamic composition that draws the viewer’s eye to the contemplative expression on Lydia’s face. Her pose and the soft rendering of her features convey a sense of casual elegance and introspection, which is further emphasized by the slight tilt of her head and the distant gaze in her eyes.
