A prolific and innovative printmaker, Mary Cassatt created this work as one of a series of 10 color prints intended for an 1891 exhibition at the influential Galerie Durand-Ruel in Paris. Cassatt had challenged herself to imitate the methods of Japanese prints that she had seen on view in Paris the year before. The resulting series, which also includes “The Bath,” reflect both the techniques and subjects Cassatt admired.
“Maternal Caress” is one of many mother and child images for which Cassatt earned international renown. She initially experimented with the mother and child theme in the 1880s, inspired by the relationship between her sister-in-law and nephew. A decade later, Cassatt was regarded a specialist on the subject. Observing from real life, Cassatt developed the ability to capture a pose quickly, a necessary talent given the active nature of young children.
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