Five O'Clock Tea

The Tea, also referred to as Five O’Clock Tea, is an oil-on-canvas painting of two women having tea by the American Impressionist painter Mary Cassatt. The role of gender in the painting has been the subject of differing interpretations among art historians. Griselda Pollock describes the confined interior as an evocation of the spatial and social constraints placed on women at the time. Norma Broude asks whether the work might contain "possibilities for empowerment," showing the agency that women exercised through sociability. And John Loughery argues that the intention behind Cassatt's work might always remain a mystery. Context Art historians and feminist scholars such as Broude emphasize that Cassatt's work must be viewed within the context of her time. Cassatt's work reflects the fact that she did not have the same access to the public sphere as her male counterparts. While male artists were able to explore busy streets, music halls, cafes, and travel, Cassatt’s experiences were limited to the domestic sphere, therefore, also limiting her choice of subjects. Description and analysis The art historian Sinéad Furlong-Clancy suggests that Cassatt's painting contains a “sense of compression” as a result of the “heavily furnished setting,” including drawing room with a carved marble fireplace, the wallpaper, the floral coach, a gilt-framed mirror, a porcelain vase, and a table with the silver tea set. According to Furlong-Clancy, “the dominant hues of mauve and red of the interior are lightened by the mirror and fireplace, and the tea service.” The “chic and understated” attire of the navy dress, gloves, and bonnet contrast with the “garishly decorated interior.” The silver tea set (which is also conserved at the MFA) “takes pride of place” in the scene. Furlong-Clancy argues that the setting is not a completely private space, but rather it is a semi-private space of socialization and entertainment. Both women are shown in informal poses; the guest’s face is obscured while drinking her tea and the hostess’ profile is shown while she rests her face on her hand with her empty cup sitting on the table. Furlong-Clancy explains that Cassatt is capturing a moment of disconnection, post-conversation between the two women. The over abundance of interior decoration and the large tea set on the table compress the women together, adding to the awkwardness of the scene.