Peasant Woman Peeling an Orange

Mary Cassatt composed this portrait around 1875, capturing a woman focused entirely on peeling an orange. The subject leans slightly forward, her attention absorbed by the simple task in her hands. This intimate composition shows Cassatt's interest in depicting women in everyday moments rather than formal poses.

The painting predates Cassatt's full involvement with the Impressionists, whom she would join officially in 1879 at Edgar Degas's invitation. At this stage, her work shows Realist influences, with careful observation and solid forms. The peasant woman appears almost monumental against the background, placed close to the picture plane so viewers feel her presence directly.

Cassatt was born in Pennsylvania in 1844 but lived most of her adult life in France. She became one of only three women (along with Marie Bracquemond and Berthe Morisot) to exhibit with the Impressionists. Gustave Geffroy later called them "les trois grandes dames" of the movement. Cassatt is best known for her paintings of mothers and children, but this early work shows her broader interest in women's lives across social classes. The oil on canvas measures 55.88 by 45.72 centimeters and remains in a private collection.