The Cup of Tea
circa 1880-81
Mary Cassatt captures a quiet, elegant moment of high-society leisure in this charming Impressionist piece. A fashionable woman in a soft pink dress and matching hat sits poised in a dark armchair, delicately holding a teacup while wearing long white gloves. Behind her, a vibrant bowl of hyacinths adds a splash of spring color to the scene. As an American expatriate in Paris, Cassatt was one of the few women invited to exhibit with the French Impressionists, frequently painting intimate scenes of women's daily lives. This piece perfectly showcases her talent for blending loose, expressive brushwork with a keen eye for modern fashion and social rituals.
- Technique
- Oil on canvas
Location: Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York