Breakfast in Bed

Mother child relationships can normally be described in a few sentences. The mother having full responsibility for the child loves them unconditionally but sometimes need a break. The child is completely dependent on the other and therefore wants to be with her ever moment they get. The impressionist style of Cassatt captures casual moments, as this one does here and shows the emotions of that moment. Cassatt captures the tired emotions of the mother with her exasperated look at the child. The mother is clearly tired- she is still in bed and her head is relaxed against the pillows. The child is expressing comfort. She is near her mother and therefore content and at the same time completely oblivious to the needs of her mother. Her ignorance of her mothers needs could be due to her age but also her selfishness in wanting to be with her mother. The lightening of this painting clearly shows it was not at nighttime or even at dawn. The lightening is late in the afternoon, which could contribute to the idea the mother is depressed (she is still in bed at noon).  The mother, although not very focused on the child is still restraining her with her arm showing that she wants the child to be there but her thoughts aren’t completely focused on the child. There is a sharp contrast with the whites of the sheets and the flesh tones of the mother and daughter. Cassatt has the subjects framed in a dark green, which draws the eye to the center pink, surrounded by white and then framed with green.