The artwork titled “Sketch of Reine and Child” by the artist Mary Cassatt dates back to circa 1902. This pastel work is of the Impressionism movement and serves as a sketch and study piece. It measures 33.02 by 38.1 centimeters and is currently held in a private collection.
The artwork captures an intimate moment between a woman and a child, with both figures lightly rendered in soft, pastel hues. The woman appears to be gazing directly at the viewer, her features expressed through rapid, delicate strokes that evoke a sense of immediacy and fleetingness characteristic of the Impressionist style. The child, depicted with more sketch-like lines, seems to be looking off to the side, lending a candid and unposed quality to the scene.
Cassatt’s skill in portraying the tender connection between the pair is evident, despite the brevity of the strokes. The use of light and shadow in the pastel medium enhances the three-dimensionality of the figures, despite the sketch’s overall ephemeral quality. The sparse use of color emphasizes the subjects, adding to the softness and warmth of the composition. The artist’s focus on everyday family life and her ability to capture the essence of her subjects’ personalities through subtle detail, align with the broader practices of the Impressionist movement, which sought to depict modern life with a focus on light and color.
