Object number1963.2.1

The Manicure

Date1908

Artist Mary Cassatt (American, 1844-1926)

CultureAmerican, French

MediumDrypoint

DimensionsImage: 7 7/8 x 5 7/8 in. (20 x 15 cm)
Sheet: 13 x 9 1/16 in. (33 x 23 cm)
Matted: 22 1/16 x 16 1/8 in. (56 x 41 cm)

Credit LinePurchase, Matthew Vassar Fund

On View

Not on view

Period20th c

Classification(s)

Catalogue raisonnéBreeskin 199

Vassar Exhibitions

Care Everywhere: Photography and Print as a Lens on Care

Label TextCare is often primarily associated with roles traditionally occupied by women, such as mothers, grandmothers, nannies, sisters, nurses, and babysitters. While Tina Modotti and Mary Cassatt depict mothers and children, Shawn Walker depicts care between siblings. Despite depicting traditional caregivers, these pieces welcome us into quiet moments of care, ones that are reserved for private spaces and may be perceived as taboo in public, or taken for granted. Modotti, an Italian-born artist and photographer, was active in Mexico, where she photographed Indigenous life and culture, in the 1920s. In this piece, Modotti captures a mother breastfeeding her child. While this act of maternal care is ubiquitous, it is oftentimes discouraged (or even actively prohibited) in public spaces. Modotti makes us privy and emphasizes a tender act of care that is often private. Like Modotti, Cassatt acknowledges the moments of care we don’t usually see. In this piece, Cassatt highlights an intimate moment in which a mother cuts her child’s nails. While this act may seem mundane, Cassatt gives us a glimpse into the everyday tasks of caregivers and highlights an act of care that, while crucial to a child’s health and hygiene, may be overlooked. Another aspect of care that is often overlooked is the relationship between siblings. Oftentimes, caregiving extends beyond motherhood and involves other family members. In Walker’s photograph, a young girl protectively holds a smaller child.

DescriptionDepiction of a seated mother with her hair pinned up and an unclothed child on her lap as she trims their nails.

Terms

Object information is a work in progress and may be updated as new research findings emerge. To help improve this record, please email loebcollections@vassar.edu