Mary Cassatt at the Louvre: The Paintings Gallery

1879–80

Edgar Degas

(French, 1834–1917)

Culture

France, 19th century

Medium

etching, softground etching, and aquatint

Support

Beige (1) wove paper

Measurements

Platemark: 30.2 x 12.6 cm (11 7/8 x 4 15/16 in.); Sheet: 36.5 x 22.3 cm (14 3/8 x 8 3/4 in.)

Credit Line

The Charles W. Harkness Endowment Fund 1929.876

Catalogue raisonné

Reed and Shapiro 52

State

XV/XX (only known impression of this state)

Impression

unique

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Location

Not on view

Did You Know?

Around the same time, Edgar Degas made a second etching showing Mary Cassatt in the Musée du Louvre, this time in the Etruscan Gallery.

Description

Cassatt said that she posed for Degas "only once in a while when he finds the movement difficult and the model cannot seem to get his idea." In fact, she modeled for her friend on numerous occasions beginning in 1879 for a pastel titled At the Louvre, upon which Degas based this etching. Here, Degas showed Cassatt and her sister Lydia in Paris's Musée du Louvre, both involved in studying the paintings on view. Created at a time when women were less frequently seen alone in pub spaces, the image suggests the young women's independence and confidence.