Mary Cassatt in the Paintings Gallery at the Louvre

Edgar Degas depicted two women visiting the Louvre Museum in Paris, France. The standing woman is the American artist Mary Cassatt while the seated figure is believed to be her sister, Lydia Cassatt. Both women are elegantly dressed, wearing dark, slim-cut walking dresses and fashionable hats. Their white ruffled cuffs and gloves, Cassatt’s umbrella, and Lydia’s pleated skirt illustrate how both the Cassatt sisters and Degas himself had the means to keep up with the latest fashion trends in Paris.

This print reflects Degas’ and Cassatt’s shared interest in art and fashion. Both artists frequently visited the Louvre to study the collection, and here Degas represented Cassatt as self-assured and poised as she examines the paintings. Cassatt understood the role clothing played in identifying her social and artistic standing. She purchased hats and gowns from top designers, contributing to her confident persona seen in this print.