Saturday, August 21, 2010

"A VISIT WITH MARY"

12x6, oil on panel, $125.00
Continuing along on our vacation in Chicago we spent some time in the Art Institute of Chicago.  Never enough time to really get how magnificent the collections are, that are housed in this beautiful building.  If I could, I would pick one painting a day and sit, admire, study it and maybe draw from it, to get in the head of the artist;  now that would be an experience.  
Mary Cassatt's work is glorious to behold.  Her attention to relationship not only in composition, but the timeless relationship of mother and child brings tears to my eyes.  The beauty of the flesh as I observed standing and looking is so wonderfully lifelike and pulls away from the canvas as if to be touched.  Oh I am breathless.  I don't begin to copy, but merely suggest her intimate painting, "The Bath", 1891-92.  My husband was quite taken with this painting and I could not resist the chance to record the impression it made.



6 comments:

Carol Horzempa said...

This is my absolute favorite painting by Mary Cassatt! I have seen it several times.

Your rendition of Cassatt's painting was done just enough to capture the same feeling of the intimate moment of mother and child. The man gazing at the painting seems to be taken in by it as well. Very nice!

Joann said...

You definitely captured that lovely, intimate feeling in Cassatt's painting. I just finished reading a biography of her life and have been oohing and aaahing over a large coffee-table book of her paintings that I received from my mom a few years ago. And now I see your painting....life takes us on nice little journeys.

Marie Theron said...

Ah yes, I also have a book with that painting. I love the way you have incorporated Mary Cassatt' s work into your own! Love the body language of the spectator!

Marian Fortunati said...

I love all of Cassatt's works that I've been able to see. Back in the day when I was beginning to learn to paint I did a "copy" of one of hers which hangs in my Dad's living room... (he's got a "Vermeer" too... LOL)
I really enjoy seeing Chicago through your eyes! Wonderful painted memories!

Unknown said...

Wonderful painting and you rendered Cassatt's painting beautifully.

Karen Bruson said...

Very nicely done. Great stance and expression on the gentleman.