121. The Coiffure

 

The Coiffure Mary Cassatt. 1890-1891 C.E, American. Drypoint and aquatint The straight lines of the mirror and wall and the chair's vertical stripes contrast with the graceful curves of the woman's body. The rose and peach color scheme enhances her sinuous beauty by highlighting her delicate skin tone. Cassatt also emphasizes the nape of the woman's neck, perhaps in reference to a traditional Japanese sign of beauty. Artist: Mary Cassatt Date: 1890-1891 Medium: drypoint and aquatint on paper Movement: Post-Impressionism Form: In the style of Japanese prints light brushstrokes sketchy reproducible print (on paper) Function: To make artwork more accessible to all classes created easily reproducible prints less expensive widespread availability Cassatt was advised against this, critics said it would make her art less valuable she insisted on this principle of art for the masses Cassatt had a prescient understanding of how photography would come to affect the art world art can no longer be elitist and elusive it will be available "to the masses" whether artists like it or not, so it was smart of her to jump on board with the wave of technology rather than resist Content: female nude sitting in chair, facing mirror woman is fixing her hair decorative prints in background (carpet and wallpaper) sign of Asian influence Context: Female nudes Cassatt, as a female, offers a truer, more intimate perspective on the female nude female nudes are generally painted by male artists, and the female body is intended for the male gaze de-eroticizes the traditional boudoir scene (historically painted by men) makes it more functional, a nonevent private, personal a feminine moment (fixing her hairstyle), intended for women, to be seen and understood by women, painted by a woman Global expansion/influences this was a time of increased contact and trade with the East Europe was fascinated with Japan and this showed especially Impressionist and post-Impressionist art shares characteristics with Japanese prints watery brushstrokes 2-dimensional rosy, faded colors ornamental, leafy/flowery patterning