Mary Cassatt: Lydia Crocheting in the Garden at Marly

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Mary Cassatt (American, 1844–1926), Lydia Crocheting in the Garden at Marly (1880), Credit Line: Gift of Mrs. Gardner Cassatt, 1965, Image Source: TheMet

“Cassatt and her family spent the summer of 1880 at Marly-le-Roi, about ten miles west of Paris. Ignoring the village’s historic landmarks in her art, Cassatt focused instead on the domestic environment. Here, she portrayed her elder sister, Lydia, fashionably dressed and insulated by a walled garden from any modern hurly-burly. Lydia is absorbed in the sort of old-fashioned handicraft that was increasingly prized by the well-to-do as factory manufacture by working-class women escalated. Although Cassatt was generally uninterested in plein-air painting, she captured the effects of dazzling sunlight beautifully in this work, especially in Lydia’s large white hat.”  

Quote from TheMet

On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 964

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    Americans in Paris, 1860-1900

    Mary Stevenson Cassatt (1844-1926)

    Women Artists in Nineteenth-Century France

    The United States and Canada, 1800-1900 A.D.

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    10 Comments Add yours

    1. JMN's avatar JMN says:

      I love studying the detail of this painting in blow-up, both the background as well as the figure. Her brushwork is dazzling. Every part of the painting solves an interesting problem.

      Liked by 3 people

      1. This painting has a ‘lit from behind’ look that I enjoy so much – not quite stained glass looking, but still softened jewel tones with lighter colors underneath that glow. I wish I knew how she did that. Thanks for your thoughts. 🙂

        Liked by 4 people

    2. Your detailing really makes me look closer and think more – always good to encourage!

      Liked by 2 people

      1. I appreciate your comments. Thanks! 🙂

        Liked by 1 person

      1. Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Christine. 🙂

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    3. Another beautiful work by Mary Cassatt 🙂

      Liked by 2 people

      1. Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Rosaliene. 🙂

        Liked by 1 person

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