Mary Cassatt

American born painter and printmaker, Mary Stevenson Cassatt, studied art at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts in Philadelphia, and then went on to travel Europe extensively, spending much of her adult life in France, among the small circle of artists known as the Impressionists. This exposure and the resulting friendships formed would influence Cassatt's painting style for the remainder of her career, introducing an increased use of pastels and a much brighter palette to the artist's works.

Mary Stevenson Cassatt's first notable success came in 1872 when her painting Two Women Throwing Flowers During Carnival was accepted for exhibition at the Salon. The work was well received and ultimately purchased. The sale of her artwork was an important consideration for Cassatt, as the cost of her studio as well as her art supplies was to be supported by the sale of her paintings, per the agreement with her father in support of her career choice. After a period of rejections from Salon exhibitions and other significant juried shows, Cassatt's career would take a positve turn in 1877 when, upon the personal invitation of Edgar Degas, she joined the ranks of the Impressionist movement and began showing her work at Impressionist exhibits. It was during this time that Mary Stevenson Cassatt really began making a name for herself, and to this day, she is recognized for her insightful portrayals of both the social and private lives of women of the day, with a particular emphasis on the intimacy of the bonds between women and children.

The artist's work during her time spent among the Impressionists took on a much more spontaneous feel, as she adopted the open air method so popular among this group of artists. Her most popular works from this time include Portrait of the Artist, Reading Le Figaro (a portrait of Cassatt's mother), and Little Girl in a Blue Armchair. In addition to her extraordinary talent as a painter, Mary Stevenson Cassatt was also well known and admired for her etchings. Toward the end of her lifetime, Cassatt was forced to stop painting by reason of failing eyesight, but she continued to remain active, offering particular support to the cause of women's suffrage. She was known to show her artwork at exhibition in support of this movement.

A rarity from American shores, Cassatt experienced moderate success within her own era. In today's world of fine art, however, the works of Mary Stevenson Cassatt command millions.