Degas Cassatt

Washington: National Gallery of Art / Delmonico Books, Prestel, 2014. Hardcover. VG (Two words written in pen on FFEP). Aqua stamped cloth, beige & color illus. dust jacket, 160 pp., many color illus. Issued in conjunction with a 2014 exhibition. "Edgar Degas's influence upon Mary Cassatt has long been acknowledged, but her role in shaping his artistic production and in preparing the way for his warm reception in America is fully examined here for the first time. These two major figures of the impressionist movement shared a keen observer's eye and an openness to experimentation. With a focus on the critical period from the late 1870s through the mid-1880s when they were most closely allied, this volume brings together some seventy works in a variety of media -- oil paintings, pastels, and works on paper (etchings, lithographs, monotypes, and drawings) -- to illustrate the artistic dialogue that developed between them. Drawing from the National Gallery of Art's exceptionally rich holdings as well as loans from both public and private lenders, [this book] builds upon groundbreaking technical analysis to present new insights into these artists' approaches. Theirs was a dialogue grounded in commonalities and subtle variations, as each embraced experimentation and unconventional materials with aplomb." (dj).