Mary Cassatt

Photo of Mary Cassatt (Wood 4)

Mary Cassatt was born on May 22nd, 1844in Pennsylvania. She had six siblings, but two died in their early years. Her family was wealthy and her parents considered traveling as an important part of their children's education. They traveled many European countries and cities. Mary could speak fluent German and French (Wood 4).

At the age of sixteen, she attended the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, but left the institution  after four years as she felt the slow pace of teaching was not productive and also, female were not allowed to draw life models (Wood 5). 

Image 1. Reading Le Figaro (1878) A portrait of Mary Cassatt's Mother.

In 1866 she moved to Paris to continue studying art. She had a very strong bond with her mom, that came along with her as a chaperone. Since women were not allowed to attend famous Paris Art school, she studied privately with some of the teachers, Jean-Leon Gerome and Thomas Couture. She also learned a lot from copying paintings from the Louvre Museum (Wood 6).

In 1808, her painting "A Mandoline Player" was exhibited in one of the famous Paris salons. She was one of the first American Artists to be displayed there. 

 Image 2. A Mandoline Player (1868)

She Returned back to the United States in 1870 after a war started between Prussia and France. Her father refused to encourage and fund her artistic education so she attempted to sell her paintings. Unfortunately, no one was buying them. In 1871 she had an exhibition of her art in Chicago, but lost all of her pieces in the Great Chicago Fire (Wood 8). 

Cassatt received an offer from archbishop of Pittsburgh to copy two famous religious paintings from Parma, Italy (Wood 9). This opened a new opportunity to make money and return to Europe. 

She was known especially for painting mothers with children and their special bond. She specifically handpicked her models without being related. This way she got exactly what she wanted to paint. She painted children the way they were naturally, without making them to look overly cute. She loved painting their clumsy movements and odd expressions.

Image 3. Child in a Straw Hat (1886)

Mary Cassatt died in Paris on June 14th, 1926 in the age of 82. She influenced people's opinion about art and women artists. 

Image 4. The Child's Bath (1886)

I really enjoyed studying Mary Cassatt. Her subject style is very much like mine. I love photographing children, their bond among each other and their moms. I too prefer capturing children with their natural expressions. Her paintings are very expressive, colorful and beautiful. I truly lover her style and her subjects.

References:

Wood, Alix. Artists Through the Ages - Mary Cassatt. Windmill Books, 2016.

Image 1: Reading Le Figaro - A portrait of Mary Cassatt's Mother (1878) (Wood 11).

Image 2: A Mandoline Player (1886) Wood 7).

Image 3: Child in a Straw Hat (1886) (Wood 21).
Image 4: The Child's Bath (1898) (Wood19).