Adaline Havemeyer in a White Hat
1898
Mary Cassatt captures the youthful, slightly bored expression of Adaline Havemeyer, daughter of one of America's greatest Impressionist art collectors. Painted in 1898, the piece showcases Cassatt's mastery of pastel, using vibrant blue strokes to make the subject's large, frilly white hat and fringed collar pop against the background. Cassatt wasn't just a painter; she was a close friend and advisor to the Havemeyer family, helping them build a legendary collection that would eventually form the backbone of the Met's Impressionist holdings. The loose, sketchy lines and the way Adaline clutches her lorgnette cord give the portrait a sense of immediacy, as if we've just caught her looking up from her day.
- Technique
- Pastel
Location: Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York