This portrait of Mary Cassatt is currently in the National Portrait Gallery in Washington DC. Since we recently moved to Virginia, I was finally able to see this piece in person. Degas is such an amazing artist, but this painting is by far one of my favorites from him. There is so much going on, yet it is so raw. The stillness in the face and dress are juxtaposed with the vibrant brushwork in the background. The white that Degas used to go around Mary’s head is so nicely balanced with the whites in her cards.
I love how this piece is so ambiguous as well. Mary is clearly sitting playing cards, yet it is hard to place where she is. If the background were to be more completed, the painting would lose so much.
This is also a piece that was not overworked. Degas did such a great job capturing Mary’s expression, and then leaving the face alone. The background as well appears to be a very loosely executed undercolor that was left alone. It is raw, but yet very carefully executed. If you make it into DC, I highly recommend paying this piece a visit.
