The Letter
1890-1891
Mary Cassatt, the only American invited to exhibit with the French Impressionists, was a master at capturing the quiet, private moments of women's lives. This sketch, likely a preparatory study for her famous 1891 pastel 'The Letter,' shows a woman completely absorbed in reading, her face tilted down in concentration. The loose, energetic lines reveal Cassatt's fascination with Japanese woodblock prints, which influenced her to use flattened perspectives and unconventional cropping. It’s a fascinating glimpse into her creative process, showing how she built her famous compositions from simple, elegant drawings before adding color.
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