My mom taught art appreciation when I was growing up, and I love looking at different artists’ works over time and remembering what I was taught as a kid, and seeing things through a different lens as an adult. My latest rabbit hole has been re-looking through the art of Mary Cassatt!

I’ve always loved her painting “The Child’s Bath” (which I think is really the first piece people think of when they see her name, if they know her work). Something that’s hitting differently now though for me is her other works showing the silly derpiness of kids and babies.

Cassatt captures kids so well. In “Little Girl in a Blue Armchair” it’s such a funny thing to me how the baby is slumped on a chair, skirt bent out of shape, clearly not being the little lady she might have been expected to be. That little girl reminds me so much of my own toddler.

In “The Boating Party” I see my youngest baby so clearly in that painting, just looking around, being floppy, not caring that their mom is trying to have a nice day out.

And finally just… the baby butts. You really don’t realize until you’re a parent how often you’ll be seeing little baby butts. In “Gathering Fruit” and “Maternal Caress” you see these cuddly little babies… and their funny baby butts.

Anyway. Clearly I’m not a professional art critic by any means. But I do appreciate the relatable, real looks at these kids from a couple centuries ago.