Lydia and Her Mother at Tea

In this intimate aquatint and etching, a woman and her daughter share a quiet moment over tea. The scene is rendered with a softness characteristic of the Impressionist movement, which Mary Cassatt embraced after moving to France. We see Lydia, the artist's sister, seated at a table, her profile gently illuminated as she gazes into a teacup. Her mother, on the other side, is partially obscured, suggesting a focus on the younger woman and the domestic ritual. The unique impression, made between different stages of the printmaking process, gives the work a particular depth and nuance, capturing the subtle interplay of light and shadow on their faces and the delicate porcelain of the teaware. This work, created in 1875, reflects the artist's frequent exploration of the private lives and social rituals of women, often within the comfort of their homes.