The Coiffure

c. 1891

Mary Cassatt

Associated Names
Mary Cassatt

Artist, American, 1844 - 1926

The image shows a sketch of a person's back, showing the upper half of their body. The person is positioned with their back towards the viewer, with one arm raised and the hand touching their hair, while the other arm is not prominently visible. Their facial features are not visible, but the hair appears long and slightly wavy, falling down their back. The person does not appear to be wearing any clothing. There are no visible jewelry or objects being held. The background is a textured sketch with diagonal hatching lines, suggesting an abstract setting with no distinct objects or scenery.

Media Options

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Artwork overview

  • Medium

    graphite with brown wash on wove paper

  • Credit Line

    Rosenwald Collection

  • Dimensions

    sheet: 14.8 × 11.2 cm (5 13/16 × 4 7/16 in.)

  • Accession Number

    1954.12.6

  • Catalogue Raisonné

    Breeskin 1970, no. 815

Artwork history & notes

Exhibition History

2025

  • Mary Cassatt / Berthe Morisot: Allies in Impressionism, Fenimore Art Museum, Cooperstown, NY, 2025, no cat. number, repro.

Bibliography

1970

  • Breeskin, Adelyn Dohme. Mary Cassatt: A Catalogue Raisonné of the Oils, Pastels, Watercolors, and Drawings. Washington, DC: Smithsonian Institution Press, 1970, no. 815.

1991

  • Wadley, Nicholas. Impressionist and Post-Impressionist Drawing. London, 1991: no. 21a.

1993

  • Effeny, Alison. Cassatt. London, revised edition 1993: p. 32.

2025

  • Mathews, Nancy Mowll, and Cannon, Ann. Mary Cassatt / Berthe Morisot: Allies in Impressionism. Exh.cat. Fenimore Art Museum, Cooperstown, NY, 2025: 53, repro.

Inscriptions

lower left in graphite: M.C; lower left verso in graphite by unknown hand: Cassatt, Mary / - "The Coiffure" / 53,7 / B-30985 (?)

Wikidata ID

Q64607653

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