Skip to Main Content
  Navigation Menu
      Admission is always free

          Open today:10:00  to 5:00
          Directions
           Play Artle
        Visit
      Visit
          
            Getting Here
          
            Accessibility
          
            Tours, Guides & Maps
          
            Food & Drink
          
            Gallery Shops
          
            Visitor Policies
  
  Collection
      Collection
          
            Highlights
          
            Search the Collection
          
            Artists Search
          
            Acquisition Highlights
          
            Stories
  
  Exhibitions
      Exhibitions
          
            Current
          
            Special Installations
          
            Upcoming
          
            On Tour
          
            Past
  
  Calendar
      Calendar
          
            Films
          
            Performances
          
            Talks
          
            Guided Tours
          
            After Hours
          
            Fun for Kids
          
            Festivals
          
            Workshops
  
  Learn
      Learn
          
            Teachers
          
            Families
          
            Teens
          
            Adults
          
            Learning Resources
          
            Music Programs
          
            Film Programs
  
  Conservation
      Conservation
          
            Projects
          
            Publications
          
            Resources
  
  Research
      Research
          
            The Center
          
            Publications
          
            Make an Appointment
          
            Archives
          
            Library
          
            NGA Online Editions
  
  Support
      Support
          
            Donate Now
          
            National Membership
          
            Circle Membership
          
            Leadership Groups
          
            Planned Giving
          
            Major Giving
          
            Gifts of Art
  
  Shop
      Shop
          
            Books
          
            Jewelry
          
            Apparel & Accessories
          
            Kids
          
            NGA Custom Prints
  
  Play Artle
            Previous Menu
              


  Search
  Hide Menu
  
  Home>Learn>Teachers>Lessons and Activities>Art Tales for Pre-K>Art Starters: Mary Cassatt
      

      
      Search Teachers
  Online Resources Find Lessons Online Courses Explore Resources
  On-site Resources School Tours & Programs Professional Development
 Mary Cassatt
  A small brown dog and a pale-skinned little girl wearing a white dress sit in matching celestial-blue armchairs in this horizontal painting. To our right, the girl sits with her legs angled to our left. She slumps back with her legs spread, and her left elbow, on our right, is bent so that hand rests behind her head. Her other elbow is draped over the armrest. Her dark brown hair appears to be pulled back, and tawny brown eyes under faint brows gaze down and to our left. She has a small nose set in a round face and a coral-pink mouth closed in a straight line. Her white dress has touches of gray, soft pink, and powder blue with a wide plaid sash around her waist. The pine-green, black, and sapphire-blue sash is accented with overlapping vertical and horizontal lines of burnt orange, light blue, and mustard yellow. Her socks match her sash and come up to mid-calf, over black shoes with silver buckles. The small dog has scruffy black fur and a russet-brown face. It lies curled in the chair opposite the girl, to our left, with its eyes closed and ears pricked up. The rounded backs of the upholstered chairs curve down to become the low arms. The vivid and light blue fabric of the chairs is scattered with loosely painted strokes of avocado and forest green, peach pink, cherry red, plum purple, and white. Beyond the chairs closest to us is another armchair and an armless loveseat, both covered with the same fabric. They sit at the back of the room, in a corner flooded with silvery light coming through four windows on the right side. The furniture is arranged on a peanut-brown floor. The artist signed in the lower left, “Mary Cassatt.”
      
        
        
            
         	  Mary Cassatt, Little Girl in a Blue Armchair, 1878, oil on canvas, Collection of Mr. and Mrs. Paul Mellon, 1983.1.18
  Mary Cassatt painted many images of mothers and children. She painted the scenes that she saw around her: children taking a bath, playing in the sand, and spending time with their parents. Observing from real life, Cassatt was able to capture everyday moments.
  LOOK
  What colors can you find in the armchairs? What patterns? What is the little girl wearing? Describe her outfit. Look carefully at how the little girl is sitting, then take the same pose with your body. What else can you find in this room? What do you think this little girl might be thinking or feeling? (To help children think through this question, draw a speech bubble on a printed version of the image and fill in what the girl might be saying.)Have you ever felt this way? If you could talk to this girl, what would you ask her? What might she ask you? Imagine this painting is a scene from the middle of a story. What happened before this? What might happen next? What name would you give the puppy? What title would you give the painting?
  READ
  Good Boy Fergus!(Spanish langauge version:¡Muy bien Fergus!) by David Shannon Fergus the dog has a perfect day experiencing all his favorite things.
  Mary Cassatt: Extraordinary Impressionist Painter by Barbara Herkert and Gabi Swiatkowska This book tells the story of Cassatt's life and her desire to be an artist at a time when few women were recognized in the art world.
  MAKE: Paint a quiet moment
  
  You will need: Paints
Paintbrushes
Heavyweight paper Where do you go to have some quiet time? You might think of a place at home, at school, outside, or somewhere else. What do you do in this place? Are you by yourself, or is someone with you? If you can, spend some time in that place before making this painting. Now, paint that special place. When you’re ready to paint, decide on the most important things to include in your painting. Try to make them fill the paper. How can you use color and pattern, or a person’s pose, to capture a particular feeling? You might want to paint someone else in a quiet moment. Ask a family member or friend to pose for you, or even your family pet!
  VOCAB BANK
  observe
pose
quiet
 Download Art Tales: Coloring and Cut-Outs booklet (PDF, 3.5 MB) Art Tales for Pre-K (PDF, 7.2 MB) Primeros Pasos En El Arte (PDF, 7.5 MB) Primeros Pasos En El Arte: Colorear y Recortes (PDF, 3.7 MB) Picturing France teaching resource An Eye for Art: Mary Cassatt teaching resource (PDF, 9.4 MB)
 Visit Register for the Art Tales pre-K school tour
 Submit Student Work Send images of your students' projects that follow these activities - email [email protected]








Stay connected Learn more about our exhibitions, news, programs, and special offers.
 Email Address for National Gallery newsletter subscription


About About the National Gallery
    
        Stories
    
        Press
    
        FAQs
    
        Contact Us
 Plan a Visit Getting Here
    
        Accessibility
    
        Today's Tours
    
        Food & Drink
    
        Calendar
    
        Downloadable Map
 Get Involved Donate
    
        Membership
    
        Volunteer
    
        Opportunities
    
        Shop Online
 Resources Search the Collection
    
        Conservation
    
        Library
    
        Archives
    
        The Center
    
        Film Programs
    
        Music Programs
    
        Audio/Video
    
        Open Access Images


Hours: 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. daily West Building6th St and Constitution Ave NWEnter or exit from Constitution Avenue, 4th Street, or 7th Street. The Madison Drive entrance is currently closed. East Building4th St and Constitution Ave NWEnter and exit from 4th Street. Sculpture Garden7th St and Constitution Ave NWEnter and exit from 7th Street, Constitution Avenue, or Madison Drive. We are closed on December 25 and January 1.
 The National Gallery of Art serves the nation by welcoming all people to explore and experience art, creativity, and our shared humanity.


Twitter
          Facebook
          Instagram
		      Pinterest
          YouTube
 © 2024 National Gallery of Art   Notices   Terms of Use   Privacy Policy