The Visitor

'The Visitor', known also as Five O'Clock Tea, is an oil-on-canvas painting by renowned American Impressionist artist, Mary Cassatt. This striking portrait showcases two women partaking in tea, providing an intimate snapshot of everyday life. The depiction has been analyzed for its representation of gender roles, with Griselda Pollock interpreting the confined space as a symbol of the restrictions faced by women during the period. Norma Broude on the other hand considers whether the painting portrays a sense of empowerment. Still, as John Loughery suggests, the true intention behind the canvas may forever remain elusive.