Lady at the Tea Table is an impressive art piece by American artist Mary Cassatt, depicting Mary Dickinson Riddle, Cassatt’s mother’s first cousin, enjoying tea at a table set with a gilded blue-and-white porcelain tea service from Canton. The painting is a prime example of Cassatt’s impressionist style and is part of the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Cassatt was known for capturing social interactions among wealthy women, and Lady at the Tea Table perfectly portrays this. In this artwork, she depicts Riddle as sophisticated and refined enjoying her afternoon tea in high society fashion.
The use of blue-and-white porcelain from Canton in modern-day Guangzhou symbolizes global trade in artistic form while creating an exquisite contrast between colors that makes the painting stand out. The bold use of brushstrokes adds texture and depth to the canvas. Lady At The Tea Table has become one of Cassatt’s most iconic works thanks to its exquisite attention to detail and captivating subject matter.
In summary, Lady at the Tea Table by Mary Cassa demonstrates excellent examples 19th-century impressionists styling portraying wealthy women participating in societal leisure activities such as drinking tea. This artwork captures both American and Chinese cultural elements through gilded blue-and-white porcelain china from modern-day Guangzhou City representing global trade. Thus making it not only an excellent representation of wealth but also providing insight into international relationships during that period.
