Portrait of a Child (Cyril Nast?)

Art Historical Context

This intimate etching, created around 1881, captures the likeness of a young child, possibly Cyril Nast, in a tender and personal portrait. The work is associated with the Nast family, most notably the celebrated 19th-century illustrator Thomas Nast, whose sharp political cartoons helped shape American visual culture. executed by Thomas or his son Cyril, the piece reflects the era’s growing interest in domestic subjects and the private lives of public figures. Measuring just 7 by 5⅜ inches, the print is an etching touched with graphite—a “proof” that reveals the artist’s hand in refining details. This technique allowed for subtle tonal adjustments, lending warmth and immediacy to the child’s features. Such small-scale, hand-finished impressions were often made for family or close friends rather than wide distribution. Now part of the Metropolitan Museum’s collection through a generous gift from the Nast children in 1933, the work offers a quiet glimpse into the personal side of a family deeply connected to American art and illustration.

About the Artist

Cyril Nast|Thomas Nast (American|American, born Germany) · 1879 |1840 –1966 |1902

American, 1879–1966|American (born Germany), Landau 1840–1902 Guayaquil