Mr. Robert S. Cassatt on Horseback
1885
Most people know Mary Cassatt for her tender scenes of mothers and children, but here she turns her attention to her brother, Robert. Dressed in a formal grey suit and top hat, he sits atop a sturdy brown horse in a wooded setting, looking every bit the proper gentleman. The scene feels like a quiet snapshot of a leisurely ride, captured with the loose, sketchy strokes typical of Impressionism. You can almost feel the texture of the pastel chalk on the paper, especially in the dappled light filtering through the trees, proving Cassatt's talent extended far beyond domestic interiors.
- Technique
- Pastel