Skip to main contentProvenanceThe artist
Margo Pollins Schab, Inc., New York, New York
Terra Foundation for the Arts Collection, Chicago, Illinois, 1994
Exhibition HistoryPublished References
Mary Cassatt
(American, 1844–1926)
Afternoon Tea Party
1890–91
Drypoint and aquatint in color with touches of gold hand-coloring on ivory laid paper
Plate: 13 11/16 x 10 5/8 in. (34.8 x 27.0 cm)
Sheet: 17 x 11 7/8 in. (43.2 x 30.2 cm)
Mat: 23 3/8 x 20 in. (59.4 x 50.8 cm)
Frame: 25 3/4 x 22 1/2 in. (65.4 x 57.2 cm)
Sheet: 17 x 11 7/8 in. (43.2 x 30.2 cm)
Mat: 23 3/8 x 20 in. (59.4 x 50.8 cm)
Frame: 25 3/4 x 22 1/2 in. (65.4 x 57.2 cm)
Credit LineTerra Foundation for American Art, Daniel J. Terra Collection
Object number1994.13
SignedIn graphite lower center to lower right: Imprimée par l'artiste et M. Leroy/Mary Cassatt/(25 épreuves)
InterpretationMary Cassatt's Afternoon Tea Party provides a glimpse of two genteel ladies quietly socializing within a tastefully decorated drawing room; a screen, a potted plant, and curtains are partially visible in the background. The hostess, whose silver-gray blouse matches the tint of the tea tray on the table, offers a tasty morsel to her guest, who holds a teacup in her right hand. The visitor in her dark-colored cape is still dressed for outdoors, a feature that injects a hint of social tension into the interaction between the two women. She sports a bonnet of deep turquoise adorned with a feather of pale gold echoed by the gold-rimmed china cups set on the tea tray. Color aquatint hues suffuse the entire composition.
Afternoon Tea Party exemplifies Cassatt's ability to capture social nuance and psychological subtlety through gesture, dress, and surroundings without imposing obvious narrative and sentiment. Cassatt took up the particular subject of tea-time, an important social ritual for women of leisure in her day, in several works. She perfected the portrayal of women in such scenes of domestic intimacy, which dominated her work in painting and various print media.
Afternoon Tea Party is one of a group of ten aquatint prints Cassatt made following her visit to a major Paris exhibition in 1890 of the traditional Japanese ukiyo-e prints she had long admired for their flattened, asymmetrical compositions, subtle color, and domestic subjects. Cassatt printed her aquatints with the assistance of an otherwise unidentified Monsieur Leroy, a Paris-based professional printer, whom she acknowledged in the inscription on this impression. The Bath (TF 1994.4), The Lamp (TF 1999.29), In the Omnibus (TF 1999.27), Woman Bathing (TF 1996.87), and Maternal Caress (TF 1994.5) also number in the series, now highly regarded as feats of innovative printmaking.
Afternoon Tea Party exemplifies Cassatt's ability to capture social nuance and psychological subtlety through gesture, dress, and surroundings without imposing obvious narrative and sentiment. Cassatt took up the particular subject of tea-time, an important social ritual for women of leisure in her day, in several works. She perfected the portrayal of women in such scenes of domestic intimacy, which dominated her work in painting and various print media.
Afternoon Tea Party is one of a group of ten aquatint prints Cassatt made following her visit to a major Paris exhibition in 1890 of the traditional Japanese ukiyo-e prints she had long admired for their flattened, asymmetrical compositions, subtle color, and domestic subjects. Cassatt printed her aquatints with the assistance of an otherwise unidentified Monsieur Leroy, a Paris-based professional printer, whom she acknowledged in the inscription on this impression. The Bath (TF 1994.4), The Lamp (TF 1999.29), In the Omnibus (TF 1999.27), Woman Bathing (TF 1996.87), and Maternal Caress (TF 1994.5) also number in the series, now highly regarded as feats of innovative printmaking.
Margo Pollins Schab, Inc., New York, New York
Terra Foundation for the Arts Collection, Chicago, Illinois, 1994
Exhibition History
Breeskin, Adelyn Dohme. The Graphic Work of Mary Cassatt: A Catalogue Raisonné. 2nd ed. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press, 1979. No. 151, pp. 64–65; ill. p. 147 (color).
Getlin, Frank. Mary Cassatt: Paintings and Prints. New York: Abbeville Press, 1980. Text p. 92; ill. p. 93 (color impression from The National Gallery of Art).
Breeskin, Adelyn Dohme. Mary Cassatt: Graphic Art. (exh. cat., Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service). Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press, 1981. Ill. cover (color impression from The St. Louis Art Museum).
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. 13 (fifth state), pp. 145–49.
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. No. 64, p. 286 (impression from The Art Institute of Chicago, acc. no. 1932.1985).
Mancoff, Debra N. Mary Cassatt: Reflections of Women's Lives. New York: Stewart Tabori, 1998. Text pp. 45, 47, 49; ill. p. 47 (color impression from the Worcester Art Museum).
Cartwright, Derrick R. The City and the Country: American Perspectives, 1870–1920. (exh. cat., Musée d'Art Américain Giverny). Chicago, Illinois: Terra Foundation for the Arts, 1999. Text p. 23 (checklist). [specific reference to Terra print]
Cartwright, Derrick R. Ville et campagne: les artistes américains, 1870–1920. (exh. cat., Musée d'Art Américain Giverny). Chicago, Illinois: Terra Foundation for the Arts, 1999. Text p. 23 (checklist). [specific reference to Terra print]
Afternoon Tea Party, Mary Cassatt. Collection Cameo sheet, Terra Museum of American Art, Chicago, Illinois, January 1999. Ill. (black & white). [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. 94; ill. p. 95 (color).
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. p. 66 (color).
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. [exh. cat]. (Exhibited at the second venue)Terra Collection-in-Residence, Harvard Art Museums, Cambridge, Massachusetts, November 29, 2022–December 31, 2026.
Getlin, Frank. Mary Cassatt: Paintings and Prints. New York: Abbeville Press, 1980. Text p. 92; ill. p. 93 (color impression from The National Gallery of Art).
Breeskin, Adelyn Dohme. Mary Cassatt: Graphic Art. (exh. cat., Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service). Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press, 1981. Ill. cover (color impression from The St. Louis Art Museum).
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. 13 (fifth state), pp. 145–49.
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. No. 64, p. 286 (impression from The Art Institute of Chicago, acc. no. 1932.1985).
Mancoff, Debra N. Mary Cassatt: Reflections of Women's Lives. New York: Stewart Tabori, 1998. Text pp. 45, 47, 49; ill. p. 47 (color impression from the Worcester Art Museum).
Cartwright, Derrick R. The City and the Country: American Perspectives, 1870–1920. (exh. cat., Musée d'Art Américain Giverny). Chicago, Illinois: Terra Foundation for the Arts, 1999. Text p. 23 (checklist). [specific reference to Terra print]
Cartwright, Derrick R. Ville et campagne: les artistes américains, 1870–1920. (exh. cat., Musée d'Art Américain Giverny). Chicago, Illinois: Terra Foundation for the Arts, 1999. Text p. 23 (checklist). [specific reference to Terra print]
Afternoon Tea Party, Mary Cassatt. Collection Cameo sheet, Terra Museum of American Art, Chicago, Illinois, January 1999. Ill. (black & white). [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. 94; ill. p. 95 (color).
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. p. 66 (color).
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. [exh. cat]. (Exhibited at the second venue)Terra Collection-in-Residence, Harvard Art Museums, Cambridge, Massachusetts, November 29, 2022–December 31, 2026.
Collection Cameo companion piece, Terra Museum of American Art, Chicago, Illinois, February 1995.
Impressions de toujours: les peintres américains en France, 1865–1915 (Lasting Impressions: American Painters in France, 1865–1915), Musée d'Art Américain Giverny, France (organizer). Venue: Musée d'Art Américain Giverny, France, April 1–October 31, 1995. [exh. cat.]
Regard sur Mary Cassatt (Mary Cassatt at a Glance), Musée d'Art Américain Giverny, France (organizer). Venue: Musée d'Art Américain Giverny, France, April 2–October 31, 1996.
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.
Collection Cameo, Terra Museum of American Art, Chicago, Illinois, January 1999.
Ville et campagne: les artistes américains, 1870–1920 (The City and the Country: American Perspectives, 1870–1920), Musée d'Art Américain Giverny, France (organizer). Venue: Musée d'Art Américain Giverny, France, April 1–July 15, 1999. [exh. cat.]
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.
On Process: The American Print, Technique Examined, Terra Museum of American Art, Chicago, Illinois (organizer). Venue: Terra Museum of American Art, Chicago, Illinois, January 13–March 2, 2001.
D'une colonie à une collection: le Musée d'Art Américain Giverny fête ses dix ans (From a Colony to a Collection: Celebrating the Tenth Anniversary of the Musée d'Art Américain Giverny), Musée d'Art Américain Giverny, France (organizer). Venue: Musée d'Art Américain Giverny, France, March 30–June 16, 2002.
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.]
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.
Impressions de toujours: les peintres américains en France, 1865–1915 (Lasting Impressions: American Painters in France, 1865–1915), Musée d'Art Américain Giverny, France (organizer). Venue: Musée d'Art Américain Giverny, France, April 1–October 31, 1995. [exh. cat.]
Regard sur Mary Cassatt (Mary Cassatt at a Glance), Musée d'Art Américain Giverny, France (organizer). Venue: Musée d'Art Américain Giverny, France, April 2–October 31, 1996.
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.
Collection Cameo, Terra Museum of American Art, Chicago, Illinois, January 1999.
Ville et campagne: les artistes américains, 1870–1920 (The City and the Country: American Perspectives, 1870–1920), Musée d'Art Américain Giverny, France (organizer). Venue: Musée d'Art Américain Giverny, France, April 1–July 15, 1999. [exh. cat.]
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.
On Process: The American Print, Technique Examined, Terra Museum of American Art, Chicago, Illinois (organizer). Venue: Terra Museum of American Art, Chicago, Illinois, January 13–March 2, 2001.
D'une colonie à une collection: le Musée d'Art Américain Giverny fête ses dix ans (From a Colony to a Collection: Celebrating the Tenth Anniversary of the Musée d'Art Américain Giverny), Musée d'Art Américain Giverny, France (organizer). Venue: Musée d'Art Américain Giverny, France, March 30–June 16, 2002.
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.]
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.