The Print Before The Fireplace By Mary Cassatt Analysis

The print Before the Fireplace was created by Mary Cassatt in 1882. Cassatt used the technique of etching to print this work. She covered the metal plate with wax and drew the image in the wax to get down to the metal. Then the printmaker put it in acid. Acid does not touch the wax it simply makes the valleys on women’s face. Although she is seating sideways, valleys are still noticeable and they create the illusion of her small nose and hardly visible eyebrows. One may notice that there are various values of black in this painting which is specific for this technique. Another factor for etching is blurred and soft image. The fireplace, in this case, does not have a sharp structure of lines. Also, the lines of the sofa are fuzzy and rough.