Ho Lai Na talks on Mary Cassat: Boating Party (1893-94)

1.  Full details of the work

Artist: Mary Cassatt

Title: Boating Party

Year: from 1893 to 1894

Medium: Oil on canvas

Dimensions: 90 x 117.3 cm

2. The specific historical context

Boating Party shows the spirits of Impressionism which are influenced by Japanese woodblock prints.

Indeed, since Japan decided to end its policy of isolation by Commodore Matthew Perry in 1854, they traded with the Far East and had cultural exchange. For example, many Japanese woodblock prints were shown in the Paris Universal Exposition of 1867. Therefore, style of Japanese prints became popular and influenced many Impressionist artists.

3. How the work fits into a broader style

There are some features of Impressionist art in "Boating Party" that explain why this work can fit into Impressionism. 

Firstly, it is a depiction of middle-class outing. It is a scene of leisure activities to show modern everyday bourgeois life. Many Impressionist painting would always depict “a slice of life”. This element is shown in Boating Party obviously.

Secondly, Cassatt depicts them in the close-up view and that is inspired by the new development in photography. In addition, it is set at an unusual angle in cut-off composition that creates a slanted viewpoint.

Then, the brushstroke in this painting is so visible and even rough. This element is often used in Impressionist painting. For example, we would see the depiction of the sea and these figures are in solid form and thus not really sophisticated.

Next, for the woman and child, Cassatt simplifies color blocks and makes use of soft, pastel shades to reflect the sunlight on their clothes. And the harder and bright color is used because of the intense sunlight as well. It shows many Impressionist artists are intent on capturing the fleeting changes in light and color under some particular elements such as weather conditions, as well as the surface appearance of reality.

Indeed, they are more concerned with optical. These all are the main features of French Impressionism. And now, we would see that “Boating Party” could be a good example of Impressionism.

4. A description of the work

As we would see, the subject matter is the mother, child and a male figure. The dark figure of the man creates a solid form and weighs the picture to the lower right as a strong silhouette. Obviously, it makes us feel it is closed to the picture plane.

Moreover, the flat plane of the surface, the far-off shoreline can intensify the compressed feeling and show the intimate interchange between these three figures in a shallow space. There is a big contrast between the group of woman and child, and the man. It is because we couldn’t see the man’s face while the face of woman and child are shown frontally.

The yellow boat support and bench echo the far-off shoreline. The curved line of the boat also parallels the flying sail. A sense of asymmetrical balance can create an unposed snapshot. The use of shallow space and the unusual point of view can be shown in this painting explicitly

The rhythm of the water is contrasted with the stable position of the woman as she is sitting in the bench of the boat. Indeed, we can discover the focal point can be the child as the woman and man’s arms, the oar, the curve of the boat put the accent on the child. And the child and man could be foreshortening by this way.

In conclusion, the entire above are the features of “Boating Party”.

5. One key quote

The reading said, “Cassatt’s bold planes of color, shape outlines, and compressed space, as well as the obi (wide sash) worn by the rower, exemplify the influence of Japanese woodblocks on the Impressionist painters.”

6. My own opinion of the work

In my opinion, it is an interesting painting. I like this painting very much!

When I see this painting, I just look like a viewer to see a scene of life. The figures in painting are not aware of my existence. They all are in their own leisure activity. The painting is not only related to direct social observation, so it provides less political tensions and shows a relaxing time.

The large proportion of the blue sea can make me feel that I’m standing in the boat to see them. And these figures look like paper dolls as they have a solid surface, I can glue it to the painting. The use of color such as bright yellow is so special. That’s why I am so interested in this painting.

7. Reference (websites for other additional information)

National Gallery of Art, “From the Tour: Mary Cassatt, Auguste Renoir, Object 3 of 7,” National Gallery of Art,

http://www.nga.gov/collection/gallery/gg83/gg83-46286.0.html (accessed Feb. 13, 2011).

National Gallery of Art, “Tour: Mary Cassatt-Selected Paintings, Overview,” National Gallery of Art, http://www.nga.gov/collection/gallery/ggcassattptg/ggcassattptg-over1.html (accessed Feb. 13, 2011).

Picturing America Artwork, Essays, And Activities, “The Boating Party, 1893/1894, Mary Cassatt (1844-1926),” Picturing America Artwork, Essays, And Activities, http://picturingamerica.neh.gov/downloads/pdfs/Resource_Guide_Chapters/PictAmer_Resource_Book_Chapter_14A.pdf (accessed Feb. 21, 2011).

8. Question about the work for the class

If we cannot discover the focal point by all directions in the painting I pointed out before. Which figure do you think is the focal point Cassatt wants to emphasize? And why?