Maternal Caress

Mary Cassatt's Maternal Caress (1921) is a charcoal and graphite drawing on cream wove paper from late in the artist's career. The subject of a mother embracing a child was Cassatt's most characteristic theme, and this late drawing shows her still exploring the subject with sensitivity and grace. The charcoal and graphite technique allows for rich blacks and subtle gradations of tone that capture the tenderness of the maternal embrace.

Cassatt's depictions of mothers and children are among the most celebrated works of Impressionism, capturing the intimacy of the mother-child bond.

This late drawing of a maternal caress captures the tenderness of the mother-child relationship with Cassatt's characteristic sensitivity and grace.