“The Letter” is a distinguished artwork by the artist Mary Cassatt, crafted between 1890 and 1891. This piece, executed through the mediums of drypoint and etching on paper, is an exemplar of the Japonism art movement and falls within the genre painting category. It is currently housed in the prestigious collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, New York, United States.
The artwork portrays an intimate domestic scene of a woman absorbed in reading a letter. She is seated, with the missive held delicately between her hands, suggesting a moment of focused attention or quiet contemplation. The woman’s attire is richly patterned, perhaps indicative of the influence of Japanese textiles and prints on Western fashion and aesthetics during this era, a link to the Japonism movement Cassatt was part of. Behind her, a wallpaper adorned with a floral motif adds depth and texture to the composition. A table with a dark wood finish stands to the right, upon which rests an unopened letter, indicating a possible correspondence. The artwork balances the private and evocative moment with the public realm of art, inviting viewers to ponder the contents of the letter and the thoughts occupying the woman’s mind.
