Child in a Straw Hat

Child in a Straw Hat is most definitely one of the many incredible paintings made by Mary Cassatt. They depict little girls appearing to be playing dress-up and where the girls are often portrayed to be taking pleasure in that act of role-playing.

Her artwork as such usually portrays more than that act of the children appearing on the drawings to be physically wearing the clothes but creates some very vivid and hidden themes and special traits which bring out their actual characters and mannerism. The finished work usually communicates a particular language and draws different emotions encouraging keen observers to think outside the box. Created in the year 1886 in Paris France, the art is a unique style of impressionism made by oils on canvas as the two main mediums. This artwork invests considerable dynamism in its handling and composition showing a relatively quiet and unexceptional moment.

Looking more closely specifically at the face, we see some weight to it, bringing a certain gravity that does not exist in the rest of the paint. This coupled with the look in her eyes, her furrowed brow, and protruding lips helps in bringing life into the portrait. Here the child is pictured to be expressing a rather obsolete and embarrassing moment showing a lack of dexterity in her posture. There is so much weight on her shoulders and with the head sagging on one side creates an expression suggesting that she is in a bad mood. She is definitely not enjoying herself and rather seems so isolated and forced to stand still. Her demeanor conveys lots of frustration and boredom with her mind engaged in deep and serious thought.

While the whole subject matter captures a languorous moment, This artwork best exemplifies the work that Cassatt is best known for, She draws up just enough information that the observer's mind essentially fills in the gaps and ultimately knows what to look for. She handles the paint very energetically with very visible and broad stroking throughout the whole composition This in turn forms some abstract patterns in particular areas such as the white sleeves on her blouse and her smock. The paint on this canvas seems to have been applied quickly and directly a manner in the art world referred to as Alla prima which eventually brings the appearance of spontaneity to the work.

Adventurous in both character and artistic mediums, Mary Cassatt distinguished herself in a genre mostly dominated by french men. She drew much of her inspiration from greats such as Claude Monet and Edgar Degas with most of her work centered in the domestic life of women and children. She has inspired very many women artists around the world challenging themselves after her works using oils on canvas, watercolors, pastels, and printmaking.