Accession Number
155385
Medium
Graphite on buff wove paper, traced over for soft ground etching with offset of soft ground on verso, showing through
Dimensions
28.2 × 18.3 cm (11 1/8 × 7 1/4 in.)
Classification
graphite
Credit Line
Gift to the Frank B. Hubachek Collection from the Marjorie H. Watkins Fund
Background & Context
Background Story
Mary Cassatt's Drawing for Standing Nude (c. 1879) is a graphite drawing on buff wove paper. Cassatt (1844-1926) was an American painter and printmaker who was a central figure in the Impressionist movement. This drawing shows a standing female nude, the figure rendered with the confident line and refined modeling that characterize Cassatt's draftsmanship. The graphite technique is precise and controlled. This drawing was traced over for soft ground etching, showing the connection between Cassatt's drawing and printmaking practices.
Cultural Impact
Cassatt was one of the leading figures in Impressionism and a pioneer of modern printmaking techniques.
Why It Matters
This graphite study of a standing nude reveals Cassatt's masterful draftsmanship and the connection between her drawing and printmaking practices.
