Little Girl in a Blue Armchair was not instantly adored. In 1878, the piece was rejected by the Paris Exposition Universelle, the city's third World's Fair. "I was furious," Cassatt wrote in a letter.

She listed it plainly as a “blue armchair,” but for two-and-a-half months, there were no takers. Finally, a potential buyer reached out. The woman asked Hughes to message her directly, so she did.

Object Name armchair Type armchair Medium Painted and stained pine and plywood Dimensions H x W x D: 85.7 × 66 × 83.8 cm (33 3/4 in. × 26 in. × 33 in.) manufactured in The Netherlands See more items ...