“Children in a Garden” is a work created by the artist Mary Cassatt in 1878. This piece is executed in oil on canvas, adhering to the principles of the Impressionist movement, characterized by a vivid portrayal of light and movement as perceived naturally. The painting’s format measures 73.34 by 92.08 centimeters and falls under the genre painting category, which depicts scenes of everyday life. Presently, the artwork is part of a private collection.
The artwork conveys a serene, domestic scene set within a verdant garden. A woman in a long dress and a bonnet is seated, holding an infant swaddled in white; the tranquility of the image is accentuated by the woman’s calm, attentive posture. Alongside the woman is a perambulator with another child, who peeks out towards the viewer. On the ground, a third child can be spotted; this child crouches, seemingly engrossed in the exploration of the flowers. This intimate outdoor setting is rendered with loose, fluid brushstrokes that typify the Impressionist style, imparting to the scene a spontaneous and ephemeral quality. The interplay of light and shadow is subtly executed, with the dappling of sunlight filtering through the abundant foliage and casting gentle patterns on the figures and the ground. The artwork, with its combination of domesticity and leisure, is a quintessential example of Cassatt’s focus on the private and social lives of women during the late 19th century.
