Mary Cassatt at Petit Palais

Mary Stevenson Cassatt was an American painter and printmaker born on May 22, 1844, in Allegheny, Pennsylvania. She spent most of her life in France, where she became a prominent figure in the Impressionist movement, closely associated with Edgar Degas. Cassatt's work primarily focused on the lives of women, particularly the intimate relationships between mothers and children, capturing the nuances of domestic life with sensitivity and depth.

Despite her family's initial objections to her artistic ambitions, Cassatt pursued her passion, studying at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts before moving to Paris in 1866. There, she studied under notable artists and developed her unique style, influenced by both the Impressionists and Japanese prints. Her contributions to art were significant, as she played a crucial role in introducing Impressionism to American collectors, notably through her connections with the Havemeyer family.

Cassatt was recognized as one of the three great ladies of Impressionism, alongside Berthe Morisot and Marie Bracquemond. Her work, characterized by its focus on female subjects and domestic scenes, remains celebrated in major museums across Europe and the United States. Cassatt's legacy endures as a pioneering female artist who broke barriers in a male-dominated field, leaving an indelible mark on art history until her death on June 14, 1926.