The artwork titled “The Opera” was created by the artist Mary Cassatt between 1877 and 1878. This genre painting, executed in oil on canvas, is part of the Realism art movement and measures 81 x 66 cm. It is currently housed in the Museum of Fine Arts (MFA) in Boston, Massachusetts, United States.
“The Opera” by Mary Cassatt captures a moment of private engagement amidst a public setting, a scene of culture and sophistication that is intimately observed. The central figure, a woman in elegant attire, is depicted in profile as she gazes through a pair of opera glasses, her attention fixed on an event beyond the viewer’s perspective. Her concentrated expression suggests an absorption in the performance, highlighting the act of looking as a theme within the artwork.
The woman is positioned against a rich, warm background that hints at the grandeur of the opera house. In the upper left corner, other opera-goers can be seen, finely dressed and also attending to the performance, albeit their presence in the artwork is much less pronounced than that of the central figure. These background characters frame the scene, enhancing the atmosphere of the opulent setting.
Details such as the elegant attire of the woman, the delicate pearl earring, and the distinguished posture convey the formality of the occasion. Additionally, the program or opera book she holds loosely in her hand suggests her engagement with the event is both visual and intellectual. Cassatt’s brushwork varies from soft to more defined, building texture and depth in the composition, while the strategic use of light and shadow emphasizes the central figure and the mood of focused observation she embodies.
