Mary Cassatt "Mrs. Duffee"

From: Denver Art Museum
Limited Edition: 22
Exhibition: Inspiring Impressionism: The Impressionists and the Art of the Past
Material: Printed vinyl
Dimensions: 30" x 89" (76cm x 226cm)

Hanging Hardware Included

Summary

Known for her touching paintings of women and children in their daily milieu, Mary Cassatt is one of the few women artists to have worked with the French Impressionist circle of Monet, Degas, and Renoir. Her skilled brushwork and ability to capture fleeting moments with a poignant stillness is evident in her 1876 painting "Mrs. Duffee Seated on a Striped Sofa". The work, in the collection of the Museum of Fine Arts Boston, is highlighted on 22 banners from the exhibition "Inspiring Impressionism".

Description

The exhibition Inspiring Impressionism: The Impressionists and the Art of the Past brought together the works of Old Masters and Impressionists to explore how the earlier works influenced those of the Impressionists. Works by 17th-century European painters were juxtaposed with later Impressionist works that they influenced. This unique display made the connections and inspirations clearly evident.

These banners feature American artist Mary Cassatt’s painting Mrs. Duffee Seated on a Striped Sofa from 1876. The work may have drawn inspiration from a work such as Jean-Honoré Fragonard’s 1776 A Young Girl Reading. The inspiration is seen in the woman’s pose, her languid air, and the rich fabrics which lend texture and depth to the work. Even her posture as she leans over the open book recalls the feel of Fragonard’s work. One quality that Cassatt also brought to her work is the quick, energetic brushstrokes that are so identifiable with the Impressionists. It is interesting that this same style of brushwork was used to some extent by Fragonard a century earlier.

The banner features a detail of Cassatt’s work dramatically enlarged to cover almost the entire surface. Below the image a deep-red band includes yellow and white text with the exhibition name and dates, “Inspiring Impressionism/Feb. 23 – May 25”. Both sides of the banner are identical.

Provenance

These banners were displayed around Denver, Colorado from February 23 through May 25, 2008 to promote the exhibition Inspiring Impressionism: The Impressionists and the Art of the Past at the Denver Art Museum. The exhibition was also seen at the High Museum of Art and the Seattle Art Museum.

About the Artist

Learn more about Mary Cassatt