Contents
Mary Cassatt
Bringing an American voice to Impressionism through paintings and prints of women and children.
Little Girl in a Blue Armchair · In the Loge
- Born
- 22 May 1844
- Birthplace
- Allegheny, Pennsylvania, United States
- Died
- 14 June 1926
More people
Mary Cassatt
Mary Cassatt was an American painter and printmaker who built her career in France. Her modern compositions and close attention to everyday relationships helped expand Impressionist art and its American audience.
Early life
An international education
Grew up in Pennsylvania and spent part of her childhood travelling in Europe.
Seeking serious training
Studied at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts before moving to Paris for private study.
Career
- 1868
Salon acceptance
Had a painting accepted at the Paris Salon.
- 1877–1879
Joining the Impressionists
Accepted Edgar Degas’s invitation and exhibited with the group from 1879.
- 1890s
Colour printmaking
Created innovative prints influenced by Japanese art.
- 1910s
Final working years
Failing eyesight eventually forced her to stop making art.
Selected work
Little Girl in a Blue Armchair
A child sprawls across a chair in an unconventional interior.
In the Loge
A woman looks through opera glasses while another spectator watches her.
The Letter
A colour print combining flat pattern and an intimate everyday action.
The Child’s Bath
An overhead view of a woman washing a child’s feet.
Beyond the studio
Building collections
Advised American collectors, especially Louisine Havemeyer, helping bring French modern painting to the United States.
Women’s rights
Supported the women’s suffrage movement and contributed work to a fundraising exhibition.
Sources & photo credit
Life, career and references ↗Museum or specialist research ↗Photo: Durand-Ruel. Public domain · Original image. Cropped and displayed in monochrome.
