The artwork titled “Young Mother and Two Children” is a creation of the artist Mary Cassatt dating back to 1905. Executed in oil on canvas, the work is representative of the Impressionist movement. The painting measures 92.08 by 73.66 centimeters and falls within the genre painting category. Currently, this piece can be found residing in the White House, located in Washington, DC, United States.
The artwork depicts an intimate familial scene where a young mother is shown with her two children. The composition centers on the tender interaction between the mother, seated and holding her young child on her lap, while the older child stands closely by her side. Both children capture the viewers’ attention; the baby is nude, perhaps after a bath, hinting at the intimate everyday moments of family life, while the older child is dressed in a simple blue dress, gazing calmly at the scene unfolding before her.
Cassatt uses loose, expressive brushstrokes common to the Impressionist style to evoke texture and movement. Gentle light baths the scene, suggesting a softness in mood and atmosphere. The mother’s gentle downward gaze and the quiet positioning of the children reinforce a sense of serenity and domesticity. With its soft palette and diffuse light, the artwork communicates the warmth and closeness of maternal love and the peaceful moments within the family sphere.
