Artist: Mary Stevenson Cassatt
Early Life and Education
Born in Allegheny City, Pennsylvania (now part of Pittsburgh's North Side) on May 22, 1844, Mary Stevenson Cassatt was an American painter and printmaker. Her family, of French Huguenot descent, valued education and travel, which would later influence her artistic pursuits. Cassatt's mother, Katherine Kelso Johnston, had a profound impact on her daughter's development.
Artistic Beginnings
Cassatt began studying painting at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts in Philadelphia at 15. Despite her family's initial objections and the patronizing attitude of male students and teachers, she persevered. She continued her studies from 1861 through 1865, during the American Civil War.
Parisian Sojourn
In 1866, Cassatt moved to Paris, where she studied privately with masters from the École des Beaux-Arts, including Jean-Léon Gérôme. This marked the beginning of her association with the Impressionist movement.
Artistic Style and Themes
Cassatt's work often focused on the social and private lives of women, emphasizing the intimate bonds between mothers and children. Her style, characterized by its modern sensibility, earned her a place among the "three great ladies" of Impressionism, alongside Marie Bracquemond and Berthe Morisot.
Legacy
Mary Stevenson Cassatt's contributions to American Impressionism and her captivating portrayals of women's lives have solidified her place in art history. Her work can be found in various museums, including the
Museum: Art Institute of Chicago (Chicago, United States), which features her piece
Painting: The Child's Bath.
Recommended Reading:
*
Mary Cassatt on Wikipedia
*
Mary Stevenson Cassatt's Artworks on WahooArt