Skip to main contentProvenanceThe artist
Mrs. Thomas A. Scott (gift from artist to second cousin)
Descended in family to Edgar Scott (grandson of Mrs. Thomas A. Scott)
Christie's New York, New York, April 29, 1996, lot 80
Margo Pollins Schab Inc., New York, New York (agent), Terra Foundation for the Arts Collection, Chicago, Illinois, 1996
Exhibition HistoryPublished References
Mary Cassatt
(American, 1844–1926)
Woman Bathing
1890–91
Drypoint and aquatint in color on ivory laid paper
Plate: 14 1/4 x 10 1/2 in. (36.2 x 26.7 cm)
Sheet: 17 x 12 in. (43.2 x 30.5 cm)
Mat: 23 1/4 x 20 in. (59.1 x 50.8 cm)
Sheet: 17 x 12 in. (43.2 x 30.5 cm)
Mat: 23 1/4 x 20 in. (59.1 x 50.8 cm)
Credit LineTerra Foundation for American Art, Daniel J. Terra Collection
Object number1996.87
SignedIn graphite lower center to lower right: Imprimée par l'artiste et M. Leroy
InterpretationThe aquatint print Woman Bathing is Mary Cassatt's interpretation of a woman's private ablution. Apparently unaware of being observed, the bather is seen from behind, her upper body exposed above the skirt of her gown of a striking green, pink, and white striped pattern as she stands hunched over a bowl of water set on a washstand. A mirror reflects part of the woman's lowered head, poised to receive the splash of water from her cupped hands. Against the corresponding deep blue expanse of the background wall Cassatt contrasted the pale flesh of the woman's back and the soft brown of the wooden cabinet. At the lower left, set upon the lush floral-patterned carpet, is an Asian-style white ceramic water pitcher, decorated with a floral motif in gold.
A stunning example of Cassatt's skill in aquatint combined with her extraordinary sense of color, Woman Bathing ranks as one of the most ravishing treatments of the intimate subject of a woman bathing in private. In choosing it, Cassatt may well have been inspired by the many treatments of the subject by her friend and French artistic colleague Edgar Degas (1834–1917), as well as by examples in Japanese woodcut prints, which she had long admired. Following her visit to a major Paris exhibition of Japanese prints in 1890, Cassatt embarked on an ambitious series of ten color aquatints, of which Woman Bathing is one. In the difficult task of printing the aquatints she was assisted by an otherwise unidentified Monsieur Leroy, a Paris-based professional printer, as she noted on this impression. The aquatint group also includes The Bath (TF 1994.4), In the Omnibus (TF 1999.27), Afternoon Tea Party (TF 1994.13).
A stunning example of Cassatt's skill in aquatint combined with her extraordinary sense of color, Woman Bathing ranks as one of the most ravishing treatments of the intimate subject of a woman bathing in private. In choosing it, Cassatt may well have been inspired by the many treatments of the subject by her friend and French artistic colleague Edgar Degas (1834–1917), as well as by examples in Japanese woodcut prints, which she had long admired. Following her visit to a major Paris exhibition of Japanese prints in 1890, Cassatt embarked on an ambitious series of ten color aquatints, of which Woman Bathing is one. In the difficult task of printing the aquatints she was assisted by an otherwise unidentified Monsieur Leroy, a Paris-based professional printer, as she noted on this impression. The aquatint group also includes The Bath (TF 1994.4), In the Omnibus (TF 1999.27), Afternoon Tea Party (TF 1994.13).
Mrs. Thomas A. Scott (gift from artist to second cousin)
Descended in family to Edgar Scott (grandson of Mrs. Thomas A. Scott)
Christie's New York, New York, April 29, 1996, lot 80
Margo Pollins Schab Inc., New York, New York (agent), Terra Foundation for the Arts Collection, Chicago, Illinois, 1996
Exhibition History
Exhibition [first solo exhibition], Galerie Durand-Ruel, Paris, France, 1891 (as one of Set of Ten).
Un regard américain sur Paris (An American Glance at Paris), Musée d'Art Américain Giverny, France (organizer). Venue: Musée d'Art Américain Giverny, France, April 11–October 31, 1997.
American Artists and the Paris Experience, 1880–1910, Terra Museum of American Art, Chicago, Illinois (organizer). Venue: Terra Museum of American Art, Chicago, Illinois, November 22, 1997–March 8, 1998.
The Decorative Form: The Aesthetic Movement, Arts & Crafts and the Asian Influence in American Art, Terra Museum of American Art, Chicago, Illinois (organizer). Venue: Terra Museum of American Art, Chicago, Illinois, September 16–December 5, 1999.
Héroïque et le quotidien: les artistes américains, 1820–1920 (The Extraordinary and the Everyday: American Perspectives, 1820–1920), Musée d'Art Américain Giverny, France (organizer). Venue: Musée d'Art Américain Giverny, France, April 1–November 30, 2001. [exh. cat.]
Collection Cameo, Terra Museum of American Art, Chicago, Illinois, August 2004.
Mary Cassatt, graveur impressionniste (Mary Cassatt: Impressionist Printmaker), Musée d'Art Américain Giverny, France (organizer). Venue: Musée d'Art Américain Giverny, France, April 1–July 3, 2005. [exh. cat.]
Portrait of a Lady : peintures et photographies américaines en France, 1870–1915 (Portrait of a Lady: American Paintings and Photographs in France, 1870–1915), Musée d'Art Américain Giverny, Giverny, France and Musée des Beaux-Arts de Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France (organizers). Venues: Musée d'Art Américain Giverny, Giverny, France, April 1–July 14, 2008; Musée des Beaux-Arts de Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France, September 25, 2008–January 5, 2009 (exhibited in Giverny). [exh. cat.]
Un regard américain sur Paris (An American Glance at Paris), Musée d'Art Américain Giverny, France (organizer). Venue: Musée d'Art Américain Giverny, France, April 11–October 31, 1997.
American Artists and the Paris Experience, 1880–1910, Terra Museum of American Art, Chicago, Illinois (organizer). Venue: Terra Museum of American Art, Chicago, Illinois, November 22, 1997–March 8, 1998.
The Decorative Form: The Aesthetic Movement, Arts & Crafts and the Asian Influence in American Art, Terra Museum of American Art, Chicago, Illinois (organizer). Venue: Terra Museum of American Art, Chicago, Illinois, September 16–December 5, 1999.
Héroïque et le quotidien: les artistes américains, 1820–1920 (The Extraordinary and the Everyday: American Perspectives, 1820–1920), Musée d'Art Américain Giverny, France (organizer). Venue: Musée d'Art Américain Giverny, France, April 1–November 30, 2001. [exh. cat.]
Collection Cameo, Terra Museum of American Art, Chicago, Illinois, August 2004.
Mary Cassatt, graveur impressionniste (Mary Cassatt: Impressionist Printmaker), Musée d'Art Américain Giverny, France (organizer). Venue: Musée d'Art Américain Giverny, France, April 1–July 3, 2005. [exh. cat.]
Portrait of a Lady : peintures et photographies américaines en France, 1870–1915 (Portrait of a Lady: American Paintings and Photographs in France, 1870–1915), Musée d'Art Américain Giverny, Giverny, France and Musée des Beaux-Arts de Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France (organizers). Venues: Musée d'Art Américain Giverny, Giverny, France, April 1–July 14, 2008; Musée des Beaux-Arts de Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France, September 25, 2008–January 5, 2009 (exhibited in Giverny). [exh. cat.]
Breeskin, Adelyn Dohme. Mary Cassatt: A Catalogue Raisonné of the Graphic Work. 2nd ed. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press, 1979. No. 148, p. 64; ill. frontispiece (color).
Getlin, Frank. Mary Cassatt: Paintings and Prints. New York: Abbeville Press, 1980. Text p. 86; ill. p. 87 (color impression from the National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.).
Mathews, Nancy Mowll and Barbara Stern Shapiro. Mary Cassatt: The Color Prints. (exh. cat., Museum of Fine Arts). Boston, Massachusetts: Museum of Fine Arts, 1989. No. 10, pp. 132–40.
Christie's New York, New York (Sale 8392, April 29, 1996): lot 80. [specific reference to Terra print]
Reymond, Nathalie. Un regard américain sur Paris (An American Glance at Paris). Chicago, Illinois: Terra Foundation for the Arts, 1997. Text p. 28; ill. p. 26 (color). [specific reference to Terra print]
Barter, Judith A. Mary Cassatt: Modern Woman. (exh. cat., The Art Institute of Chicago). Chicago, Illinois: The Art Institute of Chicago, 1998. Text no. 61, p. 323; ill. no. 61, p. 283 (color impression in The Art Institute of Chicago, acc. no. 1932.1281).
Mancoff, Debra N. Mary Cassatt: Reflections of Women's Lives. London, England: Frances Lincoln, 1998. Text p. 26; ill. p. 27 (color). [specific reference to Terra print]
Adelson, Warren et al. Mary Cassatt: Prints and Drawings from the Artist's Studio. (exh. cat., Adelson Galleries, Inc.). Princeton, New Jersey: Princeton University Press, 2000. Text p. 90; ill. p. 91 (color).
Cartwright, Derrick R. The Extraordinary and the Everyday: American Perspectives, 1820–1920. (exh. cat., Musée d'Art Américain Giverny). Chicago, Illinois: Terra Foundation for the Arts, 2001. Text p. 22 (checklist); ill. p. 45 (color). [specific reference to Terra print]
Cartwright, Derrick R. L'Héroïque et le quotidian: les artistes américains, 1820–1920. (exh. cat., Musée d'Art Américain Giverny). Chicago, Illinois: Terra Foundation for the Arts, 2001. Text p. 22 (checklist); ill. p. 45 (color). [specific reference to Terra print]
Bourguignon, Katherine M. and Elizabeth Kennedy. An American Point of View: The Daniel J. Terra Collection. Chicago, Illinois: Terra Foundation for the Arts, 2002. Text pp. 126, 192; ill. pp. 10 (color), 127 (color), 192 (black & white). [specific reference to Terra print]
Bourguignon, Katherine M. and Elizabeth Kennedy. Un regard transatlantique. La collection d'art américain de Daniel J. Terra. Chicago, Illinois: Terra Foundation for the Arts, 2002. Text pp. 126, 192; ill. pp. 10 (color), 127 (color), 192 (black & white). [specific reference to Terra print]
Mary Cassatt: Impressions. (exh. cat., Musée d'Art Américain Giverny). Chicago, Illinois: Terra Foundation for American Art, 2005; Paris: Le Passage Paris–New York Éditions, 2005. Text p. 57 (checklist); ill. cover (color detail), p. 63 (color).
Vanessa Lecomte, editor. Portrait of a Lady : peinture et photographies américains (exh. cat., Musée d'Art Américain Giverny and Musée des beaux-arts de Bordeaux). Chicago, Illinois: Terra Foundation for American Art, 2008. Text (checklist) p. 93.
Getlin, Frank. Mary Cassatt: Paintings and Prints. New York: Abbeville Press, 1980. Text p. 86; ill. p. 87 (color impression from the National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.).
Mathews, Nancy Mowll and Barbara Stern Shapiro. Mary Cassatt: The Color Prints. (exh. cat., Museum of Fine Arts). Boston, Massachusetts: Museum of Fine Arts, 1989. No. 10, pp. 132–40.
Christie's New York, New York (Sale 8392, April 29, 1996): lot 80. [specific reference to Terra print]
Reymond, Nathalie. Un regard américain sur Paris (An American Glance at Paris). Chicago, Illinois: Terra Foundation for the Arts, 1997. Text p. 28; ill. p. 26 (color). [specific reference to Terra print]
Barter, Judith A. Mary Cassatt: Modern Woman. (exh. cat., The Art Institute of Chicago). Chicago, Illinois: The Art Institute of Chicago, 1998. Text no. 61, p. 323; ill. no. 61, p. 283 (color impression in The Art Institute of Chicago, acc. no. 1932.1281).
Mancoff, Debra N. Mary Cassatt: Reflections of Women's Lives. London, England: Frances Lincoln, 1998. Text p. 26; ill. p. 27 (color). [specific reference to Terra print]
Adelson, Warren et al. Mary Cassatt: Prints and Drawings from the Artist's Studio. (exh. cat., Adelson Galleries, Inc.). Princeton, New Jersey: Princeton University Press, 2000. Text p. 90; ill. p. 91 (color).
Cartwright, Derrick R. The Extraordinary and the Everyday: American Perspectives, 1820–1920. (exh. cat., Musée d'Art Américain Giverny). Chicago, Illinois: Terra Foundation for the Arts, 2001. Text p. 22 (checklist); ill. p. 45 (color). [specific reference to Terra print]
Cartwright, Derrick R. L'Héroïque et le quotidian: les artistes américains, 1820–1920. (exh. cat., Musée d'Art Américain Giverny). Chicago, Illinois: Terra Foundation for the Arts, 2001. Text p. 22 (checklist); ill. p. 45 (color). [specific reference to Terra print]
Bourguignon, Katherine M. and Elizabeth Kennedy. An American Point of View: The Daniel J. Terra Collection. Chicago, Illinois: Terra Foundation for the Arts, 2002. Text pp. 126, 192; ill. pp. 10 (color), 127 (color), 192 (black & white). [specific reference to Terra print]
Bourguignon, Katherine M. and Elizabeth Kennedy. Un regard transatlantique. La collection d'art américain de Daniel J. Terra. Chicago, Illinois: Terra Foundation for the Arts, 2002. Text pp. 126, 192; ill. pp. 10 (color), 127 (color), 192 (black & white). [specific reference to Terra print]
Mary Cassatt: Impressions. (exh. cat., Musée d'Art Américain Giverny). Chicago, Illinois: Terra Foundation for American Art, 2005; Paris: Le Passage Paris–New York Éditions, 2005. Text p. 57 (checklist); ill. cover (color detail), p. 63 (color).
Vanessa Lecomte, editor. Portrait of a Lady : peinture et photographies américains (exh. cat., Musée d'Art Américain Giverny and Musée des beaux-arts de Bordeaux). Chicago, Illinois: Terra Foundation for American Art, 2008. Text (checklist) p. 93.